Trainer Stijn Vreven knows what it takes to be promoted to the Eredivisie. He does not see FC Eindhoven and NAC as the top favorites for promotion, but that does not mean that they have no chance. He gives FC Eindhoven, where his former assistant Rob Penders, works more chance than his old club NAC. According to the Belgian, faith must first return to the Breda club.
Stijn Vreven follows both NAC and FC Eindhoven intensively. At NAC, the Belgian was a trainer for 1.5 years and he was promoted to the Eredivisie. His old assistant Rob Penders is part of the Eindhoven team. Earlier this year, Vreven even spent a day with the number three of the Kitchen Champion Division. He is impressed by what the club from the city of lights is showing.
“You can clearly see the hand of Rob (Penders ed.). The game is structured and he knows how to convey that to his players. It’s also really impressive what they’re doing. If you had told me before the season that FC Eindhoven was going to be third, I would not have believed you.”
“Faith must return to the stands”
How different is the situation at his old club NAC. The club only reached the play-offs on the last match day and is very changeable. Yet Vreven does not want to say in advance that The Pearl of the South has no chance. “NAC is the underdog in the playoffs, but an underdog is always dangerous. Remember, the playoffs is a whole new competition. Those other 38 games are of no use to you. It starts all over again.”
Still, according to the Belgian, one thing must be done at NAC. “Faith must return to the stands. From what I’m getting now there’s too much cynicism. You can also see that in the atmosphere among the supporters. But I know better than anyone that it doesn’t take much to get the faith back in Breda.”
Yet he gives FC Eindhoven more chance in the play-offs. “FC Eindhoven and NAC both have nothing to lose in the play-offs. But I give the people of Eindhoven a better chance of promotion. They are much more stable than NAC in everything this season.”
“In the play-offs you sometimes have to be lucky and lucky”
Vreven was promoted to the Eredivisie with NAC in 2017. He indicates that good football alone is not enough. “In the play-offs you sometimes have to be lucky and lucky. You see that every year. In 2017 we had luck on our side in the home game with NEC. But sometimes you force yourself to be lucky.”
The Belgian trainer still has a lot of feeling for NAC, but also a good relationship with Rob Penders. Who would he rather see promoted? “Then let NAC get a doctorate. Hopefully Rob can then become a trainer of NAC in the Eredivisie.”
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