Kuyt: I am not out of form!

After two fixtures with Liverpool without any playing minutes, Dirk Kuyt is anxious to get a real chance with the Dutch team. Against Luxembourg, there is a vacancy next to Ruud van Nistelrooy upfront.

When most of his team mates are already inside, Dirk Kuyt does some extra work after Oranje’s training session. In the streaming rain, watched by his own image on the Dirk Kuyt-stands of Quick Boys in Katwijk.

More than ever Kuyt is searching for form and rhythm. And a good vibe. He is not longer the go-to guy at Liverpool. After a abysmal game against Blackburn Rovers, coach Benitez has sent Kuyt to the stands.

“A bad period? Well, that’s exaggerated. We work in a roulation system at Liverpool and sometimes you don’t play for a couple of games. I am not worried,” says Kuyt.

Still, in the last weeks Kuyt copped heavy criticism from press and fans. It was so heavy that captain Gerrard and coach Benitez supported the striker publicly. “I feel their support, from players, coach and the whole club. The criticism was normal. I missed three huge opportunities against Blackburn. It’s sad and tough, but it’s part of reality. People try to talk you in to a crisis, but I don’t wanna go that road.”

Reporter Tony Barrett supported Kuyt in the local papers. A player so passionate as Kuyt, he stated, deserves the support and loyalty of the fans. Always. Kuyt: “If you’d make a list of players who played in the strikers’ position at Liverpool, I am the one on top. Ajax played 5 games since Holland - Slovenia. I missed two matches, but I still played 6 matches since Slovenia. So, it’s all relative.”

Last Friday it was clear that Marco van Basten will opt for a 4-4-2 again. Dirk Kuyt would love to be the second striker in that model.
“For me, there’s more options in 4-4-2,” says Kuyt who doesn’t have to fear the competition of the injured Van Persie. “Although I realize it’s not my interest we should be talking about, but Oranje’s. I’ll do all I can to show the manager that I need to play.”

Saturday Oranje plays Luxembourg in De Kuip, the stadium where Kuyt presented himself to the world. “In the year without van Nistelrooy, both Huntelaar and myself weren’t able to convince the coach in the central position. That’s a shame, but then again, those perspectives can change in one match. In my first two years with Oranje I played every match, and lost my place just before the WC. That happens. But that could also happen the other way around.”

Kuyt is not the type to want some rest in a tough season. “I like to play all matches. I haven’t missed a lot last season with the Reds, but Benitez feels players need rest and then he gives them that time. I knew that before hand. And hey, if we win a big prize at the end of the season, Benitez was right in his choices. You won’t hear me complain…”