Ronald Koeman has broken his silence on a training fight between Wout Weghorst and Jurrien Timber in which the Dutch coach intervened to separate the pair.
The incident rocked the Dutch camp and appeared to begin when the Arsenal man appeared to grab Weghorst on the ankle as they challenged for the ball, with the giant striker writhing in pain on the ground.
He was left furious by the challenge and confronted Timber, with Koeman forced to enter the fray and calm the pair down.
Weghorst could barely hide his frustration and later appeared to bring up the incident again, with Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke attempting to calm the 32-year-old down, before eventually leaving the training ground at the end of the session and cycling away while talking on his phone.
The Dutch coach has now reacted to the altercation and has attempted to downplay the brawl at the training ground. VI information.
Ronald Koeman breaks silence on training ground brawl between Wout Weghorst and Jurrien Timber
The Dutch coach has reacted to the altercation and has tried to downplay the brawl at the training ground.
Wout Weghorst (on pitch) stormed off after being involved in a confrontation with Jurrien Timber during training.
“We must not exaggerate more than it is,” said Koeman. “In the past I have had to disarm players. That happens everywhere.
“It’s not good because in that kind of situation there should be acceptance, but I don’t think it would be a problem.”
The 61-year-old also addressed Weghorst’s departure from training camp, which many saw as a case of “storming off.”
He said: ‘Maybe it’s good to emphasise that Wout did not leave training early, because we had already finished.
‘Normally he just stays to finish something. Now he didn’t because he was a little irritated. But of course, it’s not necessary.’
Koeman also revealed that the big striker approached him later that day to discuss the incident.
He added: “Then you look at how that happened. Everyone knows it could have been done differently.
“I didn’t think it was that serious, but if it continues a little longer, sooner or later it will end. We’ll talk about it later.”
Dutch coach Ronald Koeman was forced to step in and act as peacemaker
At the end of the session, former Manchester United striker Weghorst was the first to leave the pitch.
The 32-year-old took off his shirt as it was clear his immense frustration had not abated.
“But I’ve never had any problems with arguments. That shows the character of the players.
‘A little venom and attacking each other from time to time is allowed, right?
“You also have to fight for your position. You have to do it with respect and that’s what happened in this case. I don’t see it as a problem.”
El Metro reported that Koeman tried to act as a peacemaker in the confrontation and told both of them: “I said something to you, I said something to them.”
Weghorst continued to express his frustration, to which Koeman replied: “And now it’s over!”
Koeman later confirmed that Weghorst, who was among the scorers against Bosnia, had not suffered any injury.
The former Everton and Southampton manager has been in football for a long time, both as a player and manager, and claimed modern players were “easier” to deal with.
“What I’ve experienced is that it’s actually become easier,” he said. “Because all players in modern football have to be very professional from the start, on and off the pitch.
“When I was young and coaching at Ajax, everything was different. With Mido, Ibrahimovic, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, De Jong, Heitinga… they were all players. I have grown thanks to that, from all the mistakes I have made and continue to make.”
The striker was on loan at Manchester United from Burnley in 2023, before moving to Ajax last month after spending the 2023-24 campaign with Hoffenheim.
Weghorst rode off on his bike, while talking on the phone, and Koeman revealed that he was not injured
Koeman added: ‘In my time as a young coach at Ajax it was different, with Mido, Ibrahimovic (pictured), Van der Vaart, Sneijder, De Jong, Heitinga, whoever you want to name.’
In total, Weghorst has scored 13 goals in 40 appearances for the Netherlands since making his international debut in 2018.
Weghorst has proven to be something of a cult hero internationally, with the 32-year-old scoring several crucial goals.
In total, Weghorst has scored 13 goals in 40 appearances for the Netherlands since making his international debut in 2018.
Meanwhile, Timber is back in the Netherlands squad for the first time in over a year following his recovery from an ACL injury.