Trainer Peter Maes understands the dissatisfaction with supporters of Willem II. Earlier this week, for example, banners were hung with texts at the address of the club and the Belgian trainer. “I can’t blame the supporters, I understand their response.” But he has never thought about getting on.
The Belgian feels himself responsible for the bad series in 2025. In eleven games, nine times was lost and Willem II only played a draw against PSV and Feyenoord. “Two points in eleven games is just not good enough. From my first day at the club I see that we have fantastic supporters. They are emotional and enormously concerned with the club and the results. I prefer that the criticism comes to me than to my players. I want to keep them out of the wind, so that they can continue to play football from their feelings.”
Willem II still has six games to try to get rid of the current sixteenth place in the Eredivisie. If the Tilburgers remain here, then after this season football will wait in the play-offs for enforcement. The hole with the bottom two teams RKC Waalwijk and Almere City FC, which immediately relegate, is five points.
“There are indications that we can still jump On the ranking. We work hard for a result, although we sometimes collide with limits. The faith and enthusiasm in the group of players are there to turn this around. And if that is not the case, then there is only one solution. I don’t have to tell you that. “
“A different DNA has clearly been thrown in.”
This Sunday afternoon Ajax will visit the King Willem II Stadium. Trainer Francesco Farioli of the leader from Amsterdam impresses Maes. “I know Ajax from the Dutch DNA. That is nice to play football, create opportunities and always play ahead. Fararoli has clearly thrown another DNA there.”
“He has had to focus on it for a while before it really was in it. But now there is a team that is starting to hurt more and more opponents in possession. And if they don’t attack, then he does that for a reason to create opportunities. This kind of football will see more, it is very modern football.”
