“In England, it’s all about the money” – Davy Klaassen on German differences after Everton exit

Davy Klaassen made his Bundesliga debut on Saturday, playing the full 90 minutes for Werder Bremen as they drew 1-1 at home against Hannover 96.

The former Everton player excelled in preseason for the German club and there’s big hope and optimism around him once again. After a torrid first season in English football, the former Ajax player’s agent had insisted Klaassen wanted to stay, fight, and prove himself in the Premier League but things turned out differently.

Prior to the match against Hannover, the Netherlands international spoke to Aller-Zeitung newspaper, and several parts of the interview referenced his transfer.

Asked if he feels burdened by the €13.5m Werder Bremen paid to Everton, Klaassen said: “I came from England. That’s normal. (laughs) Seriously, that does not affect me. It’s all about working hard and getting everything out of myself. Money or not. I am motivated anyway.”

Asked if Werder Bremen is a fresh start after his Toffees struggles, the Dutchman replied: “The first few weeks have certainly felt like this. I did not play much last season. For that reason, it’s a reboot. But I have not stopped training in England every day and have not stopped feeling like a footballer.”

Then Aller-Zeitung asked about the differences between the Bundesliga and Premier League, and Klaassen gave an answer to please the German audience: “In England, it’s all about the money – because it’s just there. Basically the clubs can shop as they want. In Germany, this really big money is not there. The clubs are more concerned with developing an idea, a philosophy. For me, the move to Bremen is also something of a change back to the roots of football.”

What’s Dutch for meow?