NAC still has three matches to try to prevent direct relegation from the Eredivisie. An enormous task, because there is a great lack of self-confidence. Captain Boy Kemper realizes that there is a considerable chance that NAC will go to the Kitchen Champion Division. “But I won’t give up until it’s final.”
FC Utrecht away, SC Heerenveen at home and AZ away. NAC has a tough program in the last three matches and is dependent on competitors FC Volendam and Excelsior, who both have three points more. “I still have confidence in it, otherwise I might as well not step onto the field,” he said on Saturday evening after the 0-2 defeat against Ajax.
In addition to disappointment, frustration prevailed for Kemper. “I received the statistic that we had 21 shooting attempts, 3 of which were on goal. So the ball went over and wide 18 times, which is way too many. It is an issue that we have had to work on all season.”
He is also dissatisfied with the defense, of which he himself is a member. “It may sound strange, but we know that we can score points against anyone. But when you see how easily we give away the goals against Ajax. That goal by Mika Godts, he passes five or six men. He is good in small spaces, but we should have pulled him down outside the sixteen-meter area. And not all of us just watch.”
Eindhoven midfielder Mohamed Nassoh was at times a bright spot in the team. He is critical of the team as a whole. “I put a lot of energy into it, but that has to come from everyone.”
Nassoh knows how to put his finger on the sore spot. “At times we dominated against Ajax, but then we come to the part that we often encounter. We score too few and give away the goals too easily. We really have to be sharper, this is so frustrating.”
The Eindhove native does not want to throw in the towel yet. “It is certainly not over yet, there are still three games to play. It will be quite difficult. Everyone in our selection knows what is going wrong and what needs to be improved. We are very disappointed.”
