Dutch goalkeeper Nick Olij couldn’t resist a lighthearted jab at Erling Haaland when he met Jan Paul van Hecke at the Netherlands’ Nations League training camp this week.
The Netherlands squad, led by Ronald Koeman, assembled in Zeist on Tuesday ahead of their key matchups against Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina. As Van Hecke joined his teammates, he did so with a recent standout performance for Brighton fresh on his resume, which included a hard-fought victory over Manchester City.
In that clash, Haaland initially put City in the lead with a scrappy goal, but Brighton mounted an impressive comeback as Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley both scored to seal a 2-1 win and hand City their fourth straight loss. Though Van Hecke was involved in Haaland’s goal, he rebounded with strong defensive plays, partnering with Igor Julio to frustrate City’s attacks.
Late in the match, Haaland’s patience ran thin as another City attempt fell short, prompting a heated clash with Van Hecke. The two had to be separated as tempers flared on the pitch.
While Van Hecke isn’t one to boast about facing one of the world’s elite strikers, Olij wasn’t going to let him off that easily. Teasing his old NAC Breda teammate, Olij asked, “Haaland? Haaland?” while playfully searching Van Hecke’s pockets as if to find the Norwegian striker.
Olij, who plays for Sparta Rotterdam, earned his first Netherlands call-up last year but has yet to debut for the national team. Van Hecke, however, made his debut in a recent 2-2 draw with Germany, coming on for Matthijs de Ligt at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Reflecting on his exchange with Pep Guardiola after the Haaland scuffle, Van Hecke shared, “We were just speaking about the foul at the end in the box. He just congratulated me. I said they had a great team,” adding, “He is a great manager. The way his team played last season, we lost 4-0, and I felt like I was in a rondo the whole game! I only have a lot of respect for him.”
Asked about his remarks to Van Hecke, Guardiola explained, “That he was strong with Erling, and when Erling stands up, you have to stand up—he cannot go to the grass. Stay strong, no? You pull him all the game, then after the fight you stay there. But he played a really good game and congratulations to Brighton.”
