C
ody Gakpo is shutting out
the noise. As his breakout
season on the European
stage draws to a close, he
has had more eyes on him than everr,
but he is keeping his feet firmly on thhe
ground. The 22-year-old Netherlandds
winger is thriving as vice-captain of
his hometown club,, PSV,, wearinggthee
armband and scoring the winner in
his side’s 2-1 victory over Ajax in
the Dutch Cup final in April.
“We’ve had a good season,” Gakpoo
tellsWorld Soccerexclusively. “If you
compare it to last season, we’ve had
a great season. We had some injuriess
and were16 points behind Ajax, so
I’mreallyproudoftheteam.”
Prominent amongg the list of injjuredd
PSV players this season has been
midfielder and first-choice skipper
Marco van Ginkel, meaning that
Gakpohasoftenbeentheteam’s
leader; an impressive feat and burdenn
of responsibility for one so young.
It has, without doubt, increased ann
already bright spotlight on him. Gakppo
hasledPSV’sscoringchartsformosst
of the season, with double figgures forr
assists taking him beyond 20 goal
involvements in the Eredivisie by the
start of April. With a further seven
strikes in Europe, plus a couple in
the Dutch Cup, he may well end the
campaign with over 40 goals and assists
combined in all competitions. Withouut
a troublesome ankle injury earlier in
the campaign, it would be even moree.PROPE
“I’ve been unluckky with injuries,
butI’vescoredsomme goals and given
somme assists. I’ve juust tried to enjoy
myy football,” he sayys.
Whilehehasbeeen used in a variety
of positions across the front-line, he is
cleear on his best poosition: “I prefer to
plaay on the left; it mmeans I can face up
to the opponent annd that is when I can
useemystrength,acccelerating with the
ball. That is also posssible from the No.10
position, so I feel reeally good there.”
Inevitably, there hhas been speculation
about his future ammid Europe-wide
inteerest, with Manchhester United, Arsenal
and Liverpool amonnnggtthheecclluubbssssaaiiddttoo
be keeping an eye on him ahead of
thee summer transfeer window.
“I see the attention that is coming,
but I try to stay calmm and not read it.
Eveerybody has an oopinion and everyone
waants to speak aboout it or show me.
I’mm focused on PSVV.
“The Premier Leaague is a great
competition with grreat intensity. I have
frieeennddsstthheerreelliikkeeSSttevenBergwijnat
Totttenham. I used tto play with him
here; we keep in toouch and talk when
wee are with the nattional team. He tells
meewhatisgoingonwithhimandI
tell him things fromm my side. It is an
impressive league; I love watching it.
“I want to improvve anddbbe more
decisive for the teaam on a consistent
levvel; every game I have to be there
and show all the quuality I have. I can
be stronger physicaally, of course, but
Ihavetokeepproggressing. I knewSPECIAL
FEATURE