Speaking to reporters, the former Feyenoord manager said, "Yeah, it’s difficult for me to judge how it has been in the years before but the only thing I know is that we are talking here about a player that won the Champions League and won the league title and he mentioned himself, Trent, that winning the league is about defending, so it’s clear to me then that he has been a good defender all his life. But because he is so, so special with the ball, the main emphasis goes to him doing special things with the ball and I think with him it is not about if he is capable of doing things, it’s more can his concentration rate constantly be in 100 per cent focus, that’s what it’s more about with him.
"So, this is what we talk about a lot, that he has to stay active in every situation of the game, even if the ball is further away from him. But it’s not that we or I taught him to defend in the last three months: he’s won the league and he’s won the Champions League, so it’s just getting him to understand all of what is necessary to play the best possible game. That’s what we talk about with all the individuals but also with him."