Veltman: This has been my best season

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Dutchman earned the title 'Mr. Consistent' in record-breaking campaign for Albion.

Charlie Hanson

2022-06-03T05:00:00Z

The Dutchman finished as runner-up to Marc Cucurella in the Player of the Season vote.

He has a decorated career that includes Dutch top-flight titles and playing in the Champions League semi-final, but Joel Veltman believes that this season has been the best of his career.

A three times Eredivisie title winner with Ajax, as well as the holder of a World Cup third place medal, the 30-year-old has shone for Albion this season.

The Netherlands international finished the campaign with 34 appearances across the league season, becoming Albion’s very own Mr. Consistent in defence.

“It’s difficult to be consistent in the Premier League and I saw a lot of messages on my Instagram ‘that guy is so consistent, he’s always at least 7/10’,” Joel said. “You need to be like that, people need to be able to rely on you and I think I did that this season.

Joel Veltman grabbed his first goal of the season in the 3-1 win over West Ham.

“It probably is my best season in terms of how I have played. The Premier League is the toughest competition in the world. I can say myself that I did well, I can be proud.

“As a team it’s is a real achievement to finish the season so well. When I arrived to sign for the club at the training ground, the first thing I was told was ‘we want to be top ten’. We can be really happy with what we have done.”

Veltman’s performances didn’t go unnoticed, as he finished runner-up in the Supporters' Player of the Season award behind Marc Cucurella.

“That was a massive compliment for me – my partner showed me that I was second when it came up on Twitter. I thought Marc deserved the award, he was amazing – I think because he gets forward a lot as well he gets a lot of the spotlight! But I was really honoured to be second to be honest.”

The defender also finished the campaign with a goal either, firing in on the final day to equalise against West Ham.

The moment Joel fired in against the Irons.

“Last year I scored once as well! I am a central defender who thinks defensively rather than how can I get forward. Sometimes there have been moments that I can attack – Solly [March] had the ball in the box, I saw some space and I thought ‘now or never’, he flicked it and I thought I’d just hit it as hard as I can.

“I would say the West Ham game was actually the best game of the season for me because it was a great win to finish off the year with and of course I scored.

“The game we had against Manchester United was special for us and the club, but against West Ham it was perfect, because my family were there as well.”