3/1 To Win
Emil Riis Jakobsen has had a whirlwind few months experiencing what it takes to go up against some of the best in Europe.
At 19-years-old, the Danish striker recently ran out in front of thousands to make his debut for VVV-Venlo against one of the giants in the game, PSV Eindhoven. As you would expect, that’s an experience that he won’t be forgetting any time soon.
“When I got my debut at PSV away it was a big moment for me, in front of 34,000 fans,” he said in an exclusive interview with The Ram.
“They look like they are going to win the league, so it’s a nice place to get my debut. We have Ajax next week so hopefully I can get some playing time there too. It’s pretty exciting to play against the big teams.”
In January the frontman completed a switch to the Dutch side until the end of the season in search of his first taste of senior football. Jakobsen fancied a spell in Holland and it was newly promoted Venlo who answered his call.
“It was the first year since they got promotion to the Eredivisie, so I thought maybe I could get some game time since they weren’t the top club in Holland,” he said.
Why Holland, though, and not a club in the English system like a lot of his Under-23s team-mates?
“Holland, I think, suits me. I have to learn the technical ways – it's more technical down here – so it’s a good learning curve for me to learn the technical way of football,” he added.
“The culture of the country reminds me a lot of home and just the way people are around the club reminds me of when I played in Denmark. Everyone is just so nice – not that in England people aren’t nice!
“But I just feel it in a different way. Obviously, it’s a bit harder for me too because I don’t understand the language but the culture around me has helped me to settle in.”
As mentioned previously, this is Jakobsen’s first taste of senior football since he completed his switch to Pride Park Stadium in July 2015.
Despite only two appearances in games, he explained to us he is reaping the benefits of training with the first-team and the steep learning curve that comes with that.
“I’ve really enjoyed it, it’s my first time in the first-team squad so there have been a lot of things to learn. Of course, I’d like to be playing more but I’ve learned a lot in training and it has been a good experience.
“You have to work hard in every minute of training because there is nothing given to you, so you have to work hard and do it for yourself.
“Sometimes you get the feeling that you are comfortable on a team and can relax a little bit but here you have to work hard every time to get a spot. Sometimes you don’t even get a spot then.”
Jakobsen landed on a team that had big aspirations to prolong their stay in the top-tier for a second season after four campaigns in the second. Currently sat in 12th, it looks like Venlo will be safe for another year.
“Our goal when I came here was just to stay in the league and it looks like we are going to do it. Hopefully we don’t just make it but be up high in the table,” Jakobsen added. “Obviously, for me, I want to score a goal but get some game time first so hopefully I’ll get a chance.”
