Brian Brobbey's Premier League test: how much more killer power?
On the edge of Sunderland's stadium stands Brian Brobbey, ready to duel the ball with Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa, while the cameras of CameraSport via Getty Images capture every movement. The 24-year-old striker wants to prove he has more ‘killer’ in him, now that he is playing his second full match in the Premier League.
The duel against Arsenal last weekend was a first: Brobbey played the full 90 minutes and then received praise from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta: “It is as heavy as lead to play against Brobbey.” Sunderland isolated him in one‑on‑one situations, after which the team immediately joins as soon as he possesses the ball.
New challenge in the Europa League
Tonight Sunderland faces AZ in the Europa League, a match that marks the Black Cats' first European home duel in 53 years. If Brobbey starts, he will have to face the same confrontation with AZ defender Wouter Goes, while AZ prepares for a similar battle.
The match coincides with the first Netherlands squad under national team coach Xavi Hernández. Xavi recently sent a Spanish assistant to Heerenveen to observe Goes and other AZ talents, but Brobbey does not need any additional scouting.
Mental and physical growth under Van Nistelrooij
Assistant national team coach Ruud van Nistelrooij, who already followed the potential Netherlands strikers under Ronald Koeman, now gives Brobbey new tips. He now learns to approach the ball at an angle and to take shorter steps right before the finish, so he does not lose balance as he did at Ajax.
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Brobbey compares the strength training at Sunderland with that of Ajax: “In terms of strength training Sunderland does nothing different from Ajax.” He emphasizes that in England every week is an extreme challenge, with top defenders such as Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Saliba. “Konaté is a beast,” he says.
The striker notes that chances are scarce: “At Sunderland you get at most one or two chances per match, then the ball has to go in.” He feels sharper in front of goal than in the Eredivisie.
Mental sharpness remains the biggest challenge. Van Nistelrooij points to an ‘inner database’ that top scorers such as Klaas‑Jan Huntelaar and Roy Makaay possess. Brobbey is now working on an imaginary chance map, so that he instinctively chooses the right finish.
On Friday Xavi announces his first selection, with Brobbey as the striker who is preferred over Donyell Malen and Memphis Depay for the World Cup. Writer Maarten Wijffels reports that the young powerhouse is ready to let his ‘killer’ further develop.