The Dutch defender stood out at Arsenal, days after signing a new contract with Albion. He has impressed Roberto De Zerbi with his progress and confidence and has become a firm fans’ favourite.
Van Hecke said “I just try to play every game at my best and tell myself that I need to be better than my last game. I step on the pitch with a lot of confidence. I think that’s good but not too much and also be eager to become a better player.”
Albion complete a hectic period by tackling Palace at Selhurst Park on Thursday. It feels like the sort of ultra-competitive occasion which would be right up the 22-year-old’s street.
Van Hecke said: “I haven’t thought too much about it but now we focus on that one. We know how important it is for the club, for the fans, for the players. I am really looking forward to it and hopefully we can go there for the win.”
Van Hecke and Albion will hope to have more of the game than in the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.
Van Hecke said: “I suppose you look first to yourself but then you also need to look to our opponent and they were really strong. It’s a top team, maybe one of the best in the world. I think at times we played some football how we usually do but a lot of times they had us under pressure and they played some good football. It was a difficult game but in the first half we defended our goal really well so we had good hopes for the second half. In the first five minutes we had some control but then they scored out of a corner and then a late goal. We can also score 1-1 with Pascal. It would not have been deserved but at our place we sometimes draw or lose games and it is also not deserved.”
