Rafael van der Vaart Defends Anis Hadj Moussa Amid Criticism

omidbasir- Anis Hadj Moussa scored a remarkable goal against Heracles Almelo on Sunday, prompting Rafael van der Vaart to express his appreciation for the Feyenoord winger. Van der Vaart believes that the ongoing criticism towards the Algerian is unjustified, especially considering his ability to make a significant impact for the team. However, he acknowledges that Moussa can be a challenging player for coaches to manage.

During the broadcast of Studio Voetbal, both Pierre van Hooijdonk and Van der Vaart discussed the performance of Feyenoord’s forward, Anis Hadj Moussa. Van Hooijdonk noted that while the Rotterdam team’s overall display was not exceptional, there were positive aspects, particularly highlighting Moussa’s performance. “I particularly enjoyed watching Hadj Moussa, as he was the best player on the pitch. The best player does not always have to be the most important one, but his actions create opportunities. He forces defenders to shift positions, which is crucial. You won’t achieve this if your wide players are unable to effectively dribble past their opponents or only provide crosses without making clear break-throughs.”

Van der Vaart, however, expressed confusion over the attention other players receive, stating, “It’s odd. When Nieuwkoop charges through the field like a bumper car, everyone is excited. Hadj Moussa may make mistakes, but he remains your key player.” Van Hooijdonk concurred, acknowledging the common bias against attackers who receive more scrutiny than hardworking players. “This is often the perception of football, which is somewhat unfair, as forwards play in the most challenging positions.”

Towards the end of the previous calendar year, Robin van Persie had a meeting with Hadj Moussa, who had been substituted in games due to concerns about his defensive contributions. In an interview with Ziggo Sport at the time, the Feyenoord manager described their conversation as productive. “Moussa was able to articulate his feelings. We combined our discussion with video examples, illustrating areas for improvement as well as instances where he made the right decisions. He alternates between many positive moments and occasional lapses in concentration.”