“Put that ego aside”: Brentford star upset with team circumstances but won’t make a fuss

Brentford’s Mark Flekken has claimed he had to put his ego aside after being demoted to number two for the Netherlands.

The custodian spoke with Viaplay today about the scenario surrounding his battle with Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen, which he now appears to have lost.

Following Justin Bijlow’s long-term injury, the two goalkeepers have spent the better part of the last year vying for their country’s number one spot ahead of Euro 2024 this summer.

Flekken appeared to be ahead at first, with Koeman preferring the Brentford number one over the less experienced Verbruggen, who was fighting to establish himself at Brighton after joining last summer.

However, despite victories over Greece and Ireland, the 31-year-old was discarded in favour of the Brighton player after a string of poor performances.

He has been Koeman’s choice goalkeeper for the Netherlands since a 2-1 loss to France in October of last year, starting all but one game, a 4-0 victory over Scotland earlier this year.

The Dutch manager made it plain before of Euro 2024, while controversy was still raging in the Netherlands, that Verbruggen would be his man, and that has been the case, with the 22-year-old starting all of their tournament games as well as the two Nations League games since.

That has left Flekken as number two, a situation the Brentford keeper clearly isn’t thrilled with, despite a desire not to make a fuss.

“I have a very good open relationship with Patrick Lodewijks, (Netherlands goalkeeper coach),” he said.

“We can always talk honestly and openly about these kinds of topics. The Dutch coach has shared his choice with us before the European Championship.

“Whether you agree with it or not, you have to live with it. Because you’re going to be together for a long time. Then the atmosphere has to stay good. Then you have to be able to put that ego aside from time to time.

“It doesn’t make it easy to go back and forth with the fact in your head that you’re number two. But on the other hand, it’s still an honour to be able to play for your country.”