Brentford star Mark Flekken has admitted he’s had to put his ego aside after being demoted to number two for the Netherlands.
The goalkeeper has been speaking to Viaplay today about the situation as his battle with Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen, which he now appears to have lost.
The two goalkeepers spent the best part of the last year battling to be their country’s number one ahead of Euro 2024 in the summer following a long-term injury to Justin Bijlow.
Flekken appeared to be out in front at first, with Koeman preferring the Brentford number one to the less experienced Verbruggen, who was struggling to establish himself at Brighton following a move last summer.
However, a series of shaky performances from the 31-year-old despite wins over Greece and Ireland led to him being dropped for the Brighton man.
He’s been Koeman’s preferred goalkeeper for the Netherlands since a 2-1 defeat to France in October last year, starting all but one game, a 4-0 win over Scotland earlier this year.
The Dutch boss made it clear ahead of Euro 2024, when debate was still raging on the matter in the Netherlands, that Verbruggen would be his man and that has been the case, with the 22-year-old starting all of their games at the tournament and the two Nations League games since.
That’s left Flekken as number two, a situation the Brentford goalkeeper clearly isn’t happy with, despite a desire not to cause a fuss.
“I have a very good open relationship with Patrick Lodewijks, (Netherlands goalkeeper coach),” he said.
“We can always talk honestly and openly about these kinds of topics. The Dutch coach has shared his choice with us before the European Championship.
“Whether you agree with it or not, you have to live with it. Because you’re going to be together for a long time. Then the atmosphere has to stay good. Then you have to be able to put that ego aside from time to time.
“It doesn’t make it easy to go back and forth with the fact in your head that you’re number two. But on the other hand, it’s still an honour to be able to play for your country.”
