Xavi Simons was also one of the stars at PSV against FC Twente, but the young playmaker has been warned. Willy and René van de Kerkhof believe that he should not become an ‘annoying little man’.
“He is the smallest of the bunch, but if there is a riot, Xavi is always at the front. Ruud van Nistelrooij has to deal with that,” says Willy in Omroep Brabant’s Willy & René PSV podcast. “Before you know it you’ll be known as an annoying little man.” At the same time he shows understanding. “It also has to do with his passion.”
“But you shouldn’t be too busy with your opponents and with the referee, because then you often get against the referee,” says René. “I was sometimes annoying myself. I sometimes stood on the hand of Hugo Hovenkamp from AZ when he was on the ground. Can it happen? Yes, I said that. But Hugo and I were also very good friends and that we still are.”
Despite their criticism, the brothers are above all impressed by Simons’ qualities. “That boy will reach the European, perhaps even the world top”, René predicts. “He plays so frivolously and with so much pleasure.”
