PSV coach Ruud van Nistelrooij is deeply affected by the bad news about Thijs Slegers. The 46-year-old PSV press secretary, who was struck by leukemia a few years ago, announced on Thursday that he was no longer getting better.
“It hit like a sledgehammer,” said Van Nistelrooij. “We have to deal with this very well together. If you start to imagine what this is like for him and his family, it is very sad.”
Slegers has been media affairs manager at PSV since 2016. “Thijs is a colleague you work very closely with,” says Van Nistelrooij. “The management, but also the technical staff and players. You know what kind of person he is, how he fought during the period when he was ill. He came out well at first. Then this blow of unprecedented order followed. His positivity and zest for life inspire us all.”
Van Nistelrooij said that two days before the top match in the Eredivisie against Feyenoord and three days after the transfer deadline. “We were very concerned about that at the time,” said the trainer. “Now you go back to doing your job. You want to get everything out of it. But this puts things into perspective. You put things into perspective, that’s good. It’s about your health and your family. Football is the most important side issue.”
Source: ANP
