Legendary Dutch captain, Ruud Gullit, has slammed the state of modern football so strongly that he says he has stopped watching the sport altogether, including matches like Arsenal’s 2-1 Premier League win over Chelsea on Sunday, March 1, which he described as “absolute garbage.”
The 1987 Ballon d’Or winner shared his frustrations on Ziggo Sport’s Rondo show. “I have decided to stop watching football. I don’t enjoy our sport anymore,” Gullit told chelseafconline.com.
“I watched Arsenal vs Chelsea, what an absolute garbage match of football! I see players trying to create corner kicks, trying to create throw-ins. I see ball boys ready to give towels to the players. Football has become absolutely horrible. I hope that this is not the path we are heading at.”
Gullit’s disappointment went beyond just one game, “Everyone is executing tasks on the pitch. Where are the players dribbling? Where are the players with b*lls? Why is everyone passing?! Passing! Passing! Passing!”
He added that he is waiting for players brave enough to take on defenders and beat men one-on-one, highlighting Lamine Yamal as a rare exception.
Gullit, who formed AC Milan’s famous Dutch trio with Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard, won three Serie A titles and two European Cups.
He also led the Netherlands to victory at Euro 1988 and claimed the Ballon d’Or that same year. Known for his expressive, free-flowing football, Gullit clearly believes that the beautiful game he once thrived in is vanishing.
