Demy de Zeeuw: impressive in Oranje, lost at AZ

Whenever Demy de Zeeuw needs to negotiate an expensive purchase and the negotiations are tough, he starts to doubt. “Is it because I’m an AZ player? Does the other party think I have more than enough money anyway?”

It’s part of his new status. Three seasons ago, he was an anonymous midfielder at Go Ahead Eagles in the Jupiler League. He had everything to prove. One Louis van Gaal saw his potential and two years later he was a regular in Oranje. Every kid dreams this scenario, but there are some disadvantages.
“Everywhere I go, people stare at me. It’s weird. I am a very private person, a bit shy. I just find it hard to get used too.”

“And you start to think about that, like “does this guy talk to me because I’m a well known football player?”. “Do they invite me to their party to show off with an Oranje player?”. It’s hard to know who’s sincere and who’s not.

He learns a lot from his Oranje mates and tries to understand how they deal with it. “Sometimes I go out with the more famous players, Van Persie and Sneijder, and it’s great to see how they handle the fame. I just can’t ignore people, they sometimes just smile and walk on. You can’t let the fans live your life. I still feel like the kid from Go Ahead Eagles. I don’t want my status to change my personality and behaviour, but I also need to protect myself and my privacy.”

“I wouldn’t want people to think I’m arrogant. But sometimes it’s too much. With press too. I find it’s my duty to talk to the media, but sometimes I just don’t feel like it. And then you can hear them talk about you behind your back.”

It is, De Zeeuw knows this, a so-called luxury problem. There are bigger things on his mind. AZ is going through a disaster season. “Oh yes, football determines everything. If all goes well, you feel better and you’re inclined to give more in social situations. Now we are doing so badly, I tend to hide away, close myself off. Sometimes I don’t want to even talk about football. That’s rare for me. And the things people say…like: “it’s not going too well, eh?”. I mean, I know that! But I can’t say that. I can’t take it out on the fans.”

“And I don’t play as well either. I am very disappointed in my performances. I had to play too much games on the right of midfield, and that’s not my thing. I think I belong in the center ax of the field.”

“I think last year we all understood each others strengths and weaknesses. This year, we need too much time to adapt. Look at Pelle, that’s a big boy, a good header. But still, with him in the box, we keep on trying to play the ball in low. That is just not good. We miss intelligence and quality on that level. Adapt to each other and use each others strengths.”

“Another problem is that we have too much differences in opinion. On what it takes to be top. Some players give it their all. Some don’t. And that’s a mental thing. To perform well, you need the mentality to eat the grass, the ball and the opponent every week. Every match you play. Every trainings-match you play. That is a huge step up for some.”

“We have too many players who lack the discipline. Some are still too late on the pitch for training. That’s sacrilege! And all of the boys are mates. They hang out together, go into town together. At one level, that’s great, but sometimes you have to be able to be really tough on one another. If you’re too friendly, it won’t work. And we have too many players of the same age-group.”

Having an infamous coach doesn’t help either. “You can feel the pressure is on Louis. He tries to protect us where he can, but against Heerenveen, when they started the Mexican Wave on the stands, the AZ fans participated! If we play ok, they’re behind us, but when one pass fails, they start their Louis F%$^^ Off chants…”

And that’s why De Zeeuw loves the Oranje trips. Now he is in Vienna. In a new environment, with other mates. “This is so nice, no stress. Talking about other things with other people. Van Gaal understands that and knows he will get me back with a clear head.”

In Oranje, De Zeeuw is a “security”. Even more so, he is regarded as one of the essential starters.

“In the beginning I was in awe, playing with Van der Sar, Van Bronckhorst and Van Nistelrooy. I feel one of the boys now. I try to rule in training games and I won’t be pushed around. I definitely don’t feel that the players from Madrid or London look at me as the kid from the number 12 in the Eredivisie.”

Team manager Van Basten gave his vote of confidence to the small midfielder. “I am clear in my head at Oranje. I can play my own game, take care of my tasks and not worry about Gio or Wesley doing what they need to do. That’s a big difference compared to AZ. Even my friends can see that I’m different when I play for Oranje. Much more at ease. It’s been a dream to play with the orange jersey and that dream came true.”

“The manager said I’m the player Oranje missed. Someone who can build up from the back and supports the creative players. I am still trying to find the perfect balance. Sometimes it’s too much building up and not enough support. But I improve every match. I am maybe not the most prolific player but I sure as hell try to be important.”

His role model is Cesc Fabregas, who plays in his position at Arsenal. Knowing when to pace, knowing when to go deep. Van Bronckhorst is another player he constantly watches. He also talks a lot about the more creative aspects of the game with Sneijder and Seedorf. And with Van Persie he discusses how Cesc plays. “Fabregas to me is the best player in the world. He is so smart, reads the game, can handle the ball instinctively without looking. He has eyes in his back and the most complete player. He can tackle, give assists, score… Wonderful. I know I’ve got a good shot in my feet, but I hardly ever get into the position to shoot. That’s something I need to work at.”

And he needs to be tougher, meaner even. “Sometimes you’ve got to go for the free-kick. Invite the opponent to tackle you. Or the way you handle refs. We are too sweet, too gentle. A top player will hit a free-kick into your body when you’re too close and you already have a yellow. Those players know which opponents have a card already and they seek you out. If you really want to be the best of the best, that’s the type of mentality you need. Johan Cruyff had that. Jan Wouters, Willem van Hanegem… I need to get stronger, smarter and tougher.”

He plays for AZ now for three years. What’s the next step. More years in Alkmaar. A top club in Holland? Or greener pastures abroad? Anything goes, is what De Zeeuw says. “This summer will be crucial. How well will I play on the EC, if I play at all…. And, what will AZ do? I want to discuss my ambitions with the club first.”

Whatever happens, De Zeeuw will let his smarts do the talking. “I can go to another country anytime, but the question is: will I be ready as a person to do it. I don’t think it will come naturally for me. I’m introverted, I won’t just mingle with people in another country, speaking another language… It’s daunting. So, I need to feel I’m ready for it, you know? And of course, if a big name club calls, I will definitely think it over. But it needs to feel right, otherwise I just won’t do it.”