“It feels like it was yesterday,” Pascal Jansen told Sky Sports. It was in 2022 and Tijjani Reijnders finished the season in good taste with AZ Alkmaar. “He crushed everyone in midfield. ” But this ambitious player was looking for more.
“He came up to me and said: ‘Coach, I’ve played 50% of the minutes but I want more’. I told him that the effect he had at the end of this season had to be the norm for next season. He said, “No problem, that’s what I’ll do. “
In the following crusade, AZ played 54 games in all competitions and Reijnders started all of them. “He left and never looked back,” Jansen recalls. He went on and on. “The praise was his signing for AC Milan last summer.
“I saw him grow up. He has taken a big step forward. He took the next step and moved on. It surprised a lot of other people, but not me because I can see that it’s on the right track, especially in our European games. . . He made the difference.
This summer he will take on the task of leading the Dutch midfield at Euro 2024. The loss of Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners is a major blow for Ronald Koeman and his team, but he is sure that Reijnders will step up. their efforts again.
Reijnders, now 25, was born in the same year as his compatriot the Dutch midfielder, but had a late appearance in Alkmaar. While Koopmeiners was a normal player at AZ, he was loaned to RKC Waalwijk.
“AZ was very lucky with Teun and Fredrik Midtsjo in midfield, so Tijjani fought against both of them. He had the ability to play as a 10, but he wasn’t as smart there as he was in midfield. So he competed with those guys and had to wait his turn. “
With the departure of Koopmeiners and the return of Reijnders from his loan as “a more mature player”, there is an opportunity. But it’s not easy. ” We weren’t smart enough in midfield, so I had to readjust. He had to be patient. “
He only flourished in what was to be his last season at AZ. This ubiquitous season is a testament to its robustness and quality. What had changed? Jansen sees this as a wonderful example of how a player takes advantage of his opportunity.
“Once he got here, he stepped up every day. Just playing, feeling the confidence of his coach and the team, he has matured. He had all the tools, but when he had the opportunity to show them he kept them. their promises. It had more impact.
“He was very vital in the preparation phase. He felt when he needed to pass deep to Jordy Clasie. But he was also able to carry the ball, offer assists, shoot from distance and score passes. He’s become very productive. “
This productivity was also evident in his first season with Milan. Reijnders is in the top 10 players in Serie A in terms of chances created from open play, finished passes in the final third of the pitch and through balls.
“The funny thing about Tijjani is that he’s smiling. In its frame language you can literally see when you’re having fun. I was curious to know how his adaptation phase would go in Milan, but I can see in his frame language that it was fine.
“When he was transferred to Milan, you might see the same Tijjani in another environment, improving again. His family circle supported him and encouraged him to play to his potential. They guided him in the right direction. “
His father, Martin, is a professional footballer and still runs a lot of his business. Even the decision to decide in Milan the right balance between professional strategy and emotion. “Tijjani is a very solid and calm personality,” Jansen adds.
“There were other clubs interested in him. Very big clubs. “There were even talks with Barcelona, but Milan’s plan convinced him that it was the most productive option. “He’s very willing to make this move. Playing for the Rossoneri has a special meaning.
“I wanted to play for Milan with the wonderful history of Dutch players. “At Siro, he follows in the footsteps of the legendary trio of Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard who led the club to European glory in 1989 and 1990. .
Of course, all three won the European Championship the last time Germany hosted the tournament in 1988. Reijnders will feel that sense of history, an awareness evoked through the fact that he will wear the number 14 shirt, synonymous with Johan Cruyff.
In March, he scored his first goal abroad, a very good goal against Scotland at the stadium named after Cruyff. His form for his country means he probably would have done it anyway, despite the injury crisis. From now on, it will be precisely important.
“The way he’s continued to progress has been incredible,” Jansen says. “He put himself on the map with very intelligent performances for the national team. “Ready to shine?” I have no doubt. Without a doubt in everything. “