Ambitious Van Ginkel Reigniting Career With Title Challenging PSV

Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. That was the thought running through Marco van Ginkel's head when joining Dutch champions PSV on loan from Chelsea in January. The hope for all parties involved is for Van Ginkel to rediscover the form that initially led to his transfer in a familiar environment consequently restarting his career. 

While his time in Eindhoven is only a few weeks old, and will naturally be short as he's signed until season’s end, it's already proving to be an astute piece of business. More importantly, in recent months, it is very encouraging to say we have seen the first green shoots of him returning to his old self. Confidence is everything and the smile on his face is the biggest indicator that he's once again enjoying his football.  

A far cry from the events of September 24, 2013 when Van Ginkel suffered a fate you wouldn't wish on any sportsman, let alone one with their entire future in front of them. His fourth appearance, and first start, for the Blues - in a League Cup tie away to Swindon Town - turned into a nightmare inside 10 minutes. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament and while not trying not to sound melodramatic, it could turn out to be his last game for the Londoners when his move promised so much. 

Prior to his arrival on King's Road, many were convinced he'd one-day grace one of Europe's top five leagues, but even they couldn't fathom how early their prediction came to pass. It was, understandably, seen as a giant leap for - what he was at the time was - a continuously improving young footballer. Van Ginkel, then aged 20, shared this overriding concern, but was swayed once he’d spoken directly to José Mourinho - the reinstated Chelsea manager had followed him closely during his spell with Real Madrid. In those conversations Mourinho reportedly outlined youth would come to dominate his second administration, meaning the next generation will be getting their fair crack of the whip.  

Fate had other ideas. Since recovering from his unfortunate setback, not forgetting it was once a career-ending injury, and part of his rehabilitation, he's subsequently went out on loan to AC Milan and then Stoke City. The former was a truly enlightening experience, playing the full 90 minutes of their final 12 league games last season, in which he solidified the opinion his game is tailor-made for Serie A or "the tactical league" as Mourinho once described. It wasn't the case in Staffordshire, where opportunities were limited. He started just 11 of his 21 matches, accumulating 1104 minutes, while completing only six and was an unused sub in a seven further fixtures.  

Italy may be in his future. He left Milan with a good impression, but as briefly mentioned there's a sense of rejuvenation on home soil. On a weekly basis the player, some observers excitedly dubbed the "blueprint for the modern midfielder", is slowly coming back. It's a testament to his natural ability he's made a smooth transition into PSV's brand of football, but that's not at all surprising given manager Phillip Cocu - one of Europe's brightest young coaching talents - has deployed him as their 'number eight', a position he was born to play. 

It was during his final campaign with boyhood club Vitesse - who he joined aged 10 from amateur club S.V. de Valleivogels based in Scherpenzeel, a small distance to his birthplace Amersfoort - when he started to embody the role.  

Fred Rutten, his fourth manager, stationed him alongside stalwart Theo Janssen, their controlling playmaker, in a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation. By combining individual skill with stamina, his all-round game reached a new plateau - 12 goals across 41 matches in all-competitions, plus a further 12 assists - and would earn him a full international debut against Germany in November 2012 before receiving the prestigious 'Dutch Football Talent of the Year', or Johan Cruyff award.  

His dreams of representing Oranje at the last World Cup were crushed and even though his international ambitions right now are on the backburner, things can quickly change - a player like Van Ginkel cannot be ignored for too long. In an interview with Algemeen Dagblad during the summer of 2013, he described himself as a "modern dynamic box-to-box midfielder" naming Bastian Schweinsteiger as his reference point and former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as an example while moving up the ranks in Arnhem.  

Growing up fast is an understatement. The burden of responsibility at Vitesse as a teenager only accelerated his maturation for the better. It was never viewed as a hindrance and though at times it weighed greatly on his shoulders, Van Ginkel wouldn't have it any other way. His father Alex, who played a single season as a professional for FC Utrecht, remains his biggest supporter and critic. He's made sure fame hasn't gone to his head, which cannot be said for many of his contemporaries. This down-to-earth and unperturbed attitude has allowed him to ease seamlessly into an already tightly-knit PSV dressing room. Another advantage is having previously worked together with a number of his new teammates.  

The most notable reunification is with Davy Pröpper, who joined PSV last July, and has known Van Ginkel since they were "eight or nine years old". From that moment, their friendship has blossomed and the strong bond they've forged has gradually translated onto the pitch. In recent weeks Cocu has played them as his first choice midfield pairing alongside Andrés Guardado - PSV’s silent and calming force - to considerable effect.  

What primarily made everyone sit up and take notice regarding Van Ginkel is his intelligent movement and spatial awareness in the final third and between the midfield and forward lines. This has been prevalent in a short space of time and in the process added a new dimension to PSV's championship pursuit. Cocu's preferred system, an orthodox 4-3-3 formation, has played a catalytic part in the midfielders’ so-called rebirth, allowing him to express himself. 

In his six league matches to date, he's produced three goals from 2.5 shots per game - including a wonderful backheel against ADO Den Haag last month - and one assist from 1.3 key passes per match. But what has delighted Cocu is his overall defensive contribution. 1.2 interceptions and 1.5 tackles per game to match his footballing acumen, Van Ginkel - comfortable with either foot - rarely gives away the ball. His serenity in possession is illustrated by his pass success rate (81.8%) from 53 per game, which makes him an asset to a side who set out to play heavily on the front foot. 

Another factor behind his reawakening is education. You never stop learning and for someone of his calibre there's no better teacher than Cocu. Although a veteran by Eredivisie standards, Van Ginkel can still bolster his knowledge and what he gains from one of the most accomplished footballers could prove very invaluable. 

Ambitious is a befitting word to describe him. To suggest he's found his level in the Dutch top-flight is grossly exaggerated, if not indirectly demeaning. PSV, unlike Stoke City and to a lesser extent AC Milan, have empowered and utilised him correctly as well as regularly. However, there's no doubt Van Ginkel has what it takes to thrive on the grandest stage, which makes his next decision all the more paramount.  

Moving to Chelsea was audacious and there's no guarantee - bearing in mind the direction the Blues are now heading if rumours are to be believed - he will play a significant role under their new management. Then again it's worth noting Juventus, under former manager Antonio Conte, were rumoured to be interested before Van Ginkel decided to take his talents to West London.

How impressed have you been with Van Ginkel following his return to the Netherlands? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below