De Jong: “On barbecue day we were wrong”

Luuk de Jong decided with a goal at Benito Villamarín the derby of the first round and is now ready to help Sevilla win in a historic game that will mark the return of Spanish football after the coronavirus break.

Of course, there is a mole that assumes after appearing with his companions at an 'illegal' barbecue in which he appeared with friends and Banega, Franco Vázquez and Ocampos and their partners when it was not possible to gather more than 10 people and without maintaining the safety distance. “On barbecue day we were wrong. It is obvious. And we ask for forgiveness. It was a mistake. We are professionals and it cannot happen. We have learned a lot from that. For me, now, it is like an extra motivation, a way to take something bad and transform it into positive energy to improve, to show that we are prepared, ”said the former PSV Eindhoven striker.

De Jong is really looking forward to what will be his second derby in Seville: “They had already told me about the match, but it was when I jumped onto the field of the Betis stadium and saw Monchi's face when I realized that it was not one more game. I will never forget his face, ”the striker explains in‘ Abc ’, referring to the harangue that the sports director dedicated to them when they went out onto the pitch.

That earned him to keep that goal that meant the triumph (1-2) forever in his memory: “I have been able to score many goals in my career, and the derby player remains one of the most special because of everything I experienced before. , during and after the game. The derby goal will always be with me. We won”.

The ‘oranje’ international hopes to increase his scoring numbers in the remaining eleven days. “Every striker likes to score. It is his main objective, but then there are other aspects that I have also begun to take into account. The coach explains the tactical movements, the importance of pressing, of moving and leaving a partner with spaces. I have six goals in 31 games and am the first to recognize that I should have more. Just before the coronavirus arrived, I had very good feelings. I hope they continue, “he explains.