Rafael van der Vaart makes Ian Maatsen point even Aston Villa cannot ignore
Dutch football legend Rafael van der Vaart thinks extremely highly of Aston Villa full-back Ian Maatsen, but he still isn't getting opportunities for club and country
Rafael van der Vaart is dumbfounded Aston Villa's Ian Maatsen is not starting for the Netherlands as he believes the 22-year-old to be the best their country can offer in his position.
There may yet be plenty of opportunity with the majority of his career still to come, but the Villa full-back has scarcely been used at senior international level despite wide recognition of his talents. Ronald Koeman only called him up for Euro 2024 when others dropped out with injury, then last month Maatsen was only afforded a place with the 'Jong Oranje', or Under-21s.
For the October break though he has finally been with the full national team, selected outright, only to then not make it off the bench against either Hungary or Germany.
"I do think he is a very good player. I think he is the best left back we have at the moment. But I have the idea that Koeman has less in common with Maatsen," Van der Vaart told Voetlbalprimeur in response to the manager's selections.
Tottenham's Micky van de Ven had started on the left side of the back four, but with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk suspended for the second Nations League fixture he had to step further inside. Teenage Ajax star Jorrel Hato filled in instead of Villa's No.22.
Fellow former Dutch international Theo Janssen agreed with Van der Vaart, saying: "My preference is also for Maatsen. Hato has gone through a hype, has done very well and has come quickly. But I think he’s more of a centre-back than a left-back. Maatsen can really add something to the game."
But Maatsen's problems breaking into the line-up is not only indicative of challenges at international level, as he has also experienced a cautious start to life under Unai Emery as well.
When signed from Chelsea for £37.5m this summer many expected a full-back who had just enjoyed a loan stint with a Champions League finalist would smash his way into the starting XI at Villa Park, yet he has only been afforded one Carabao Cup start and featured in only 118 minutes of Premier League action.
Veteran Lucas Digne has instead kept his place as a tried and tested option, though there are two reasons to suggest Emery may have to register the latest Maatsen praise.
One is the fixture list, which has already started to take a toll on other areas of the squad - further injuries are the last thing required. The other comes down to Digne's exposed flaws on international duty, with Eurosport describing him as constantly 'overwhelmed' by the pace of Jeremy Doku against Belgium on Monday night.