Since joining Tottenham, Vincent Janssen hopes to emulate Ruud van Nistelrooy’s success.
The comparisons between Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen and former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy are both understandable but premature at the same time.
After Van Nistelrooy ended a five-year spell with Manchester United, the Dutch striker scored 95 goals in 150 Premier League appearances.
It was the only time that the former PSV Eindhoven center forward played in England’s top-flight division, but he left an everlasting impression.
In total, Ruud van Nistelrooy made 215 appearances, scored 149 goals, had 19 assists and helped the Red Devils win the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield.
His success is still being talked about to this day. Clearly, the now-40-year-old Dutchman has set the standards quite high for other Dutch strikers in the Premiership.
Dirk Kuyt who played with Liverpool (2006-12) and Robin van Persie with Arsenal (2004-12) and Man United (2012-15), both had good careers in England too.
And now with Vincent Janssen the latest center forward to make the switch from the Eredivisie to the Premier League, can the 22-year-old follow in all three players’ footsteps? Specifically van Nistelrooy since their hometowns are near one another?
Janssen hopes so, but knows that he’s nowhere near Ruud van Nistelrooy’s level yet.
“In England they are just finding out that me and Van Nistelrooy are from the same area,” Vincent Janssen said (via ESPN FC).
“But I wouldn’t say we’re being mentioned in the same breath — maybe that will come. I would think that’s an enormous honour. I’m not as far as him yet.”
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For now, Janssen has gotten his Premier League career off to a good start. He has appeared in Spurs’ first three games this season and has been influential in the team’s offense.
When the Dutch international is on the pitch, Tottenham’s attack looks more dynamic, more dangerous and threatening. While Vincent Janssen has yet to score he will always get the benefit of the doubt that he is still adjusting to a new league.
That said, he wants to prove himself and so far he has done an impressive job.
“I’ve always felt a strong urge to prove myself,” Janssen added.
“Maybe that’s my biggest talent. I can tell the crowd appreciates the way I play.”
Because he has settled in with the team and isn’t looked at as a main contributor for Spurs — that still belongs to Tottenham’s key starters — there’s less pressure for the 22-year-old to produce right away.
“Within the squad I was immediately accepted,” Vincent Janssen continued.
“We have a young, ambitious group, with no players who feel they’ve already arrived. That made it easier, I think.”
“I really was accommodated fantastically.”
In due time, Vincent Janssen will start scoring goals.
He had a slow start last season with AZ Alkmaar and wound up winning the Golden Boot award so it’s not surprising that it’s happening once again, this time with Spurs.
Players who have yet to experience the Premier League develop slowly in general.
Some adjust quicker than others, but the rule of thumb is that foreign players take a while to get going because there’s a learning curve in tactics, a new system and environment.
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