After AZ successfully passed three preliminary rounds of the Conference League, the group stage for Pascal Jansen’s team will start tomorrow. The first opponent for the Alkmaarders is the Ukrainian Dnipro-1.
Because of the war in Ukraine, the game will be played in Košice, the second largest city in Slovakia. “It is a strange situation. You want to feel the atmosphere in the opponent’s own stadium,” says AZ coach Jansen at the press conference a day before the game. “If we had played against them in Ukraine, it would have been very different. So there is a big difference. But we prepared ourselves well.”
Strong start to the season
AZ traveled to Slovakia with a good feeling. Last Sunday, sovereign won from FC Emmen. Moreover, due to the current third place in the Eredivisie, they can speak of a strong start to the season. “We’ve done well in Europe and in the Premier League. We know what it’s like to play important games. We know what it’s like to fight for three important points or risk being eliminated in Europe. That experience is important to us Janssen said.
Man in shape at AZ in recent weeks is Tijjani Reijnders. The 24-year-old midfielder makes a strong impression with the Alkmaarders and can confirm this himself. “Some players have left. I took my chance. I now perform at a constant level. And I have to remain important for the team with goals and assists,” said Reijnders, who is expected to start in the base tomorrow.
Reijnders, who is a regular base player in the AZ team this season, is looking forward to the first group match. “This is European football. You want to be here and show your talents. We want to go to the next round of the Conference League.”
The game between Dnipro-1 and AZ starts tomorrow evening at 9 p.m.