Ross County defender Kenny van der Weg has extra motivation to deliver a victory at Partick Thistle today after being angered by reports claiming he is unhappy in the Highlands.
Dutchman van der Weg, along with team-mate Alex Schalk, was interviewed for a Dutch magazine, with extracts from the article used to convey a damning verdict of the pair’s Dingwall life both on and off the field.
The two Dutchmen claim their quotes were mistranslated and taken out of context, but left back van der Weg is eager not to allow the situation to affect him ahead of today’s crucial trip to Firhill, where the Staggies must win to keep alive their slim top-six hopes.
Van der Weg said: “I think they maybe did it before the games to make the problem here. For myself, and for Alex, everyone believes us.
“We know what we said and what we didn’t say. I know what I said and when I read the newspaper it was not what I said. It is not in my head and I focus on the games.
“I think we can get a good result. We have a good team and I think now we have extra power to show everyone.”
Van der Weg has established himself as a regular in Jim McIntyre’s side since moving from Dutch second-tier outfit NAC Breda last summer, making 29 appearances for the the Staggies.
He was quoted as saying he was bored of living at Dingwall – despite the fact he resides in Inverness – but the 26-year-old rejected that interpretation, insisting he aimed no criticism at his club or at life in Scotland.
He added: “There were a couple of things. I’ve never lived at Dingwall and my English is bad but not so bad that I would want to go home. I don’t want to go home.
“When I have a day off I like to see the Highlands and I want to see everything.
“That’s what I said, but they said I drive every time to Edinburgh. Yes, I went last week, but I went to Skye as well. Maybe they need to write that.
“When I get a day off I go somewhere to see things. It’s not that it’s boring here. I’m happy here, I want to go everywhere and when I live here I want to see everything. That is what I do.
“Me and Alex spoke about life when we were together at Breda and now they want to know how the life is here. It’s a beautiful life. It’s good to live here and play here. We like the club.
“They then asked the difference between our old club and Ross County and I said it was more professional here. We have more things to do for our recovery and everything.
“That is the difference. But how they write it made it look like the club is really bad, which is not true.”
