Liverpool star gives his backing to coaching change, jokes about player injuries

 

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has told the Dutch media Fred Grim will be a good appointment for the Netherlands. Grim has been installed as assistant coach to Danny Blind after recent high profile departures.

Voetbal International have reported on comments Wijnaldum made whilst away with the national team. The Liverpool star was asked about Grim coming in as assistant to Blind, to which he replied it will a nice appointment for the Netherlands set-up.

The attacking midfielder went on to jokingly say it makes a change there haven’t been any more departures within the coaching staff, but just players this time.

“That’s nice, yes. There are sometimes withdrawals, but this time it’s the players,” said the Liverpool midfielder.

The Netherlands have been hit by several injury withdrawals, hence Wijnaldum’s joke, and Blind has had to call-up replacements.

Blind will still be pressure to get results against France and Belarus after the draw they got in Sweden last month. Blind’s qualification efforts for Russia 2018 haven’t been helped by the recent departures of Dick Advocaat and Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, so he’ll be hoping Grim can be a long term help.