Precisely on the day when the public is welcome again in the Geusselt for the first time in a long time, crowd favorite Joeri Schroijen returns in a different outfit. As a player for VVV-Venlo, he now crosses swords with MVV Maastricht.
The derby (Friday evening, 20:00) will be special for the player from Weert in any case. He expects a positive reception. “I left MVV through the front door,” said the wing attacker.
Year
It has been a year and thirteen days since Schroijen last played a match in the Geusselt: his last appearance in the shirt of MVV, on January 22, 2021 at home against Helmond Sport. A performance in style, but without shine. Because Schroijen scored in that game, as he so often did, but due to the corona measures, there were no fans in the stands to celebrate the goal.
‘Yuri Yuri Yuri’
As a player for MVV, he scored a total of 42 goals in four and a half seasons, 24 of which in his own stadium. And with that, Schroijen was one of the few constant factors on the field in that period. Add to that his threatening actions and synergy with the audience and it is logical that the ‘Joeri Joeri Joeri’ reverberated through the Maastricht arena every two weeks. That still puts a smile on the face of ball wizard Schroijen. “Yes, I’ve heard that before, yes… I’ve always had a great time at MVV.”
greek adventure
And yet it was time for Schroijen in February 2022 for a new adventure, which he found in Greece at Xanthi. It was not a Greek tragedy, but that period could not be called successful for Schroijen, with two goals in eighteen matches. And so the now 31-year-old winger happy to sign with VVV-Venlo last summer.
Ban broken
But the goal guarantee, so characteristic of Schroijen, failed to materialize in Venlo in the first half of the year. Only last Sunday he broke the spell with his first goal of the season, the winning against FC Dordrecht (4-2). “I had a wonderful week,” said Schroijen, who confesses that he has had frustrating months due to the lack of goals. “The audience in the Koel did me good. I hear them shouting all kinds of things in the stands, I like that.”
Also read:
VVV wins spectacular from FC Dordrecht
Heavily hit
It will affect Schroijen, but certainly also MVV, which will be back in the Geusselt for the first time since October 29. The Star Carriers are one of the hardest hit clubs when it comes to empty stadiums due to an unlucky schedule: of the ten times that MVV played without an audience, six matches were in their own stadium. Coincidence or not, MVV didn’t win one of those six matches: four times they lost and twice the Star Carriers drew.
‘I expect positive comments’
And so it is for everyone who cares about the red and white people, but it is also good that a third of the seats can be filled again on Friday. And Schroijen is also looking forward to getting to know the MVV supporters again. “I expect positive comments on Friday,” he says. “I also left through the front door. It’s a nice club and I don’t expect anything crazy.
struggled
MVV-VVV is a confrontation between struggling teams. MVV lost at home and in the last six matches, albeit with only one goal difference each time. And last weekend, coach Klaas Wels also missed a cartload of players. VVV has been trumped by volatility all season long. Jos Luhukay’s team played poor matches against Jong PSV (1-4 loss) and Jong AZ (2-0) in recent weeks, but bent the momentum on Sunday to deal with FC Dordrecht. All strikers Luhukay fielded in the starting line-up, including newbies Nick Venema and Rayan el Azrak, scored.
Also read:
Luhukay praises VVV newcomers: ‘Guys with good insight’
Miracle
Earlier this season, the mutual duel in De Koel was spectacular. In an open game, the crowd was treated to a shower of chances at both goals and it was a minor miracle, especially thanks to Mitchy Ntelo and Mart Remans, that only two goals were scored. Goals from Tristan Dekker and Carl Johansson made it 2-0 for VVV.
Also read:
VVV wins Limburg derby: no goals for MVV
Favorite?
Given that result and the places in the ranking – MVV is sixteenth and has six points less than number eleven VVV – you are inclined to designate the Venlo people as favorite for the win on Friday. “I think so,” says Schroijen. “We have now won a match and MVV has only lost in recent weeks. We are favorites, even if they play at home.”
Live
The derby between MVV Maastricht and VVV-Venlo starts on Friday at 20:00. The match can then be followed live via L1 Radio.