Mohamed Ihattaren produced the kind of performance Fortuna Sittard supporters have been waiting to see — and Danny Buijs immediately decided that the midfielder had heard enough from the outside world.
Ihattaren scored twice and provided an assist as Fortuna Sittard defeated ADO Den Haag 3–2 away from home on Sunday, playing the decisive role in a victory that moved his side to 10 points from their opening five Eredivisie matches.
Yet when broadcasters wanted to speak to the 24-year-old after the final whistle, Buijs stepped in.
The Fortuna manager has temporarily prohibited Ihattaren from giving media interviews, insisting that keeping the midfielder's environment as small as possible is more important than allowing him to enjoy the attention that naturally follows such a performance.
It is an unusual decision after a match in which Ihattaren was the undisputed star.
But for Buijs, it is part of a much bigger plan.
Ihattaren finally produced the performance to match the promise
The numbers tell the story.
Ihattaren opened the scoring in the 29th minute before Lequincio Zeefuik doubled Fortuna's advantage five minutes later.
ADO pulled one back through Yannick Eduardo shortly after half-time, but Ihattaren restored Fortuna's two-goal cushion in the 62nd minute with his second of the afternoon.
ADO eventually reduced the deficit again through Jesse Bal in stoppage time, but Fortuna held on for a 3–2 victory.
Ihattaren was substituted in the 74th minute, having already done the damage.
It was the sort of display that naturally creates headlines.
Buijs, however, appears determined to make sure the headlines do not become the story.
Why Buijs has closed the media door
The Fortuna manager's reasoning is centred on Ihattaren's long-term development.
Buijs explained that the midfielder has received plenty of media attention over the years and believes his priority now should be building consistency on the pitch rather than discussing his performances away from it.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve,” Buijs said, explaining that this can sometimes work against the player because comments can continue to attract attention long after they are made.
The manager therefore wants Ihattaren to let his football do the talking.
That is particularly significant given the player's journey over recent years.
Fortuna are not simply trying to get another talented player producing good numbers for a few weeks. Buijs has been working with Ihattaren for an extended period and appears convinced that removing unnecessary distractions can help him establish the consistency required to reach his potential.
“The world needs to stay small”
Buijs' decision was not presented as a punishment.
It was almost the opposite.
The Fortuna manager believes protecting Ihattaren from excessive attention is currently in the player's best interests.
The midfielder has attracted significant scrutiny throughout his career, meaning a spectacular performance such as Sunday's could quickly turn into another cycle of interviews, headlines and expectations.
Buijs wants to break that cycle.
His message is essentially straightforward: play, improve, repeat.
The manager believes Ihattaren must first establish the habits required to perform consistently before everything surrounding the football becomes important.
That makes the media ban less about silencing the player and more about controlling the environment around him.
The timing makes the decision even more interesting
The ban comes at precisely the moment when Ihattaren's profile is rising again.
His two goals against ADO were his first of the match and came during a hugely influential individual display.
Fortuna's victory also continued their strong start to the Eredivisie campaign, with the club now sitting on 10 points from five matches.
That means interest in Ihattaren is likely to increase rather than decrease.
And that is exactly what Buijs appears to be trying to manage.
Instead of allowing one excellent performance to become a major external narrative, the coach wants Ihattaren back on the training ground preparing for the next match.
The objective is not one outstanding afternoon.
It is turning performances like this into the norm.
Fortuna's gamble could pay off
There is an obvious risk to this approach.
Footballers are public figures, and media appearances are a normal part of the professional game. Completely removing a player from interviews can attract attention of its own.
But Buijs clearly believes the potential benefit outweighs that concern.
Ihattaren's career has contained plenty of discussion about what he could become.
Now Fortuna appear to be concentrating on what he can consistently do.
Sunday provided the latest evidence.
Two goals. One assist. Three points.
The next challenge is doing it again.
And again.
If Ihattaren can turn this performance into the beginning of a sustained run of form, Buijs' decision to keep him away from the cameras could eventually look less like a controversial media restriction and more like a carefully calculated attempt to give a talented player the quiet environment he needs.
For now, the message from his manager is clear.
Let the football speak.
Fan Debate
⚽ Goal: Ihattaren's performance against ADO showed exactly why Fortuna have continued to believe in his ability.
🔥 Fire: Buijs is right to protect the midfielder from unnecessary distractions.
😲 Shock: Ihattaren scored twice and provided an assist — yet was still prevented from speaking to the media.
👍 Like: The best response from Ihattaren now is to keep producing performances on the pitch.
💬 Comment: Is Danny Buijs right to keep Mohamed Ihattaren away from the cameras?
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