With a convincing victory over Fortuna Sittard (0-3), AZ has washed away the hangover of the past few weeks. The Alkmaarders had something to put right after they had not won four games in a row. “We were embarrassed for four weeks,” defender Pantelis Hatzidiakos says.
In the competition, AZ went down in recent weeks against FC Twente (2-1) and Sparta Rotterdam (0-1) and got stuck at 1-1 against sc Heerenveen. In the Conference League it came down against Anderlecht (0-2). The victory over Fortuna Sittard puts an end to that gnawing series. “Today we have made a good step to close the season well. I hope we can achieve a good result on Thursday, because then the season can be fantastic.”
Coach Pascal Jansen also thought that his team had given the right response to the past few weeks. His team played fresher and more agile in Sittard and saw Jens Odgaard, Milos Kerkez and Vangelis Pavlidis score. “We were comfortable on the ball and completely controlled the game,” says Jansen. “We took the lead so that also gave us confidence.”
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Milestone
It was also a special match for Hatzidiakos. The central defender played his 200th official match in the shirt of AZ. “Experienced some peaks and troughs through all those matches,” says the Greek. “I look back on it proudly. I think I am an added value in the dressing room and on the field. The development continues.”
Next Thursday, AZ will play the return in the quarterfinals of the Conference League. The Alkmaarders have to make up for a 2-0 deficit against Anderlecht. The home game starts at 6.45 pm in Alkmaar.