The season started very well for Dean Huijsen. For his first appearances under the Madrid tunic, the one who cost the Merengues 59 million euros left very good sensations. Gifted with the ball, being able to break lines with a well-felt pass, and often well positioned and intelligent behind, the player who grew up in Malaga delighted public opinion and already established himself as the boss of the Madrid rearguard. A real gift from heaven for Xabi Alonso, a big fan of his profile.
But at the moment, it’s a completely different Huijsen that we see, like his match against Liverpool on Tuesday evening. Generally speaking, in matches with somewhat serious opposition, Huijsen was not up to the challenge. Against the Reds, he clearly took on water, with numerous defensive errors. Often poorly positioned, not necessarily winning his duels, he was even bad in what is his specialty: the restart. On the Anfield pitch, he finished with 14 missed passes on the clock, which is huge and offered several interesting situations to the Reds.
But where has the real Huijsen gone?
In the Madrid press, he is clearly singled out. “Huijsen must dispel doubts in the most demanding matches”title thus Marca. The media is particularly concerned about his tendency to avoid shocks and blows, also believing that he is too fragile in duels. A certain form of nonchalance and complacency is also evoked, with the reference to this famous same chill guypresenting the Spanish-Dutchman as a quiet and calm player. Perhaps too much, especially in a club where, historically, the central defenders who have established themselves over time have generally been rather fiery and aggressive players, like Sergio Ramos, Pepe or even Antonio Rüdiger.
A Huijsen with two faces. Rather comfortable and not particularly called upon in most La Liga matches, where he can therefore afford a few mistakes which do not necessarily have consequences, but in difficulty against attackers of a higher level like those of Liverpool. Against FC Barcelona, ​​despite the lack of bite of the Catalan attack, he did not necessarily convey a feeling of total serenity, and during the Madrid derby, he was extremely in difficulty. If he retains Alonso’s confidence for the moment, Huijsen knows that he must do better since at his side, Éder MilitĂŁo is rather convincing, and Antonio RĂĽdiger, once back from injury, but also Raul Asencio or David Alaba are eyeing his place in the center of defense…
