On the eve of the Dutch team's upcoming UEFA A League second round match against Germany, the team's defender Ake attended the pre-match press conference and expressed his views on the team's recent performance, personal status and future role positioning.
Looking back on the Netherlands' match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ake recognized his team's attacking performance: "We did quite well in possession in that match, showing good attacking ability. However, we also clearly realize that there are some problems in the defensive end, especially the problem of losing the ball needs to be solved urgently. Facing the upcoming German team, we know that the level of play will be higher, so we have to give it our all and be well prepared."
Talking about the specific reasons why the team conceded the goal, Ake analyzed, "I think the main problem appeared in the midfield, where the space was over-exploited by the opponents. In addition, there was a problem with the link between the two center backs, which gave the opponents a chance to take advantage of the situation. In the upcoming matches, we need to work more closely together to minimize these unnecessary mistakes."
Regarding his offensive performance in the match, Ake said that it was not a coincidence: "In the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, I did show some offensive ability, but it does not mean that I will play the same role in every match. It all depends on the situation of the game and the tactical arrangement of the opponent. Sometimes, against stronger opponents, we may need to focus more on defense; while in some cases, I may also be more involved in the attack. At the club, I mainly play as a center back or left back and am more defensively oriented, but in the national team, I have more freedom to adjust my position and role according to the needs of the game."
Finally, Ake talked about his current status: "I feel very good and healthy! I feel very honored and happy to represent the Dutch national team in such an important game. I hope to bring this healthy state and positive mindset back to the club and continue to contribute to the team."
