With eleven games to go, the end of the season is slowly approaching. AZ opens this 24th round with an away match against Vitesse on Friday evening. An opponent where coach Pascal Jansen would like to make up for something.
“It is a tough and well-organized opponent,” said Pascal Jansen in front of NH Sport’s camera one day before the game. Earlier this calendar year, AZ played a disappointing 1-1 draw against Vitesse. “We’ll probably get a tough job out of that.”
“Exciting Racing”
AZ has some lesser weeks. For example, the Alkmaarders recently lost the squatter to Feyenoord in Rotterdam and AZ drew twice (Volendam, FC Utrecht). As a result, Jansen’s team is now third, five points behind leader Feyenoord. “The top four are very close together and it varies from week to week. It’s just a very exciting race.”
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Walter Goes
In Arnhem, Jansen cannot have the injured players Sam Beukema, Riechedly Bazoer, Zinho Vanheusden, Bruno Martins Indi and Dani de Wit. Furthermore, the suspended Jordy Clasie is missing. The Alkmaar team is therefore quite battered, but that does give opportunities to new talents. That became clear in recent weeks with Wouter Goes. The only eighteen-year-old Amsterdammer stands out in the center of the defense. “I think it’s wonderful to be able to experience it up close.”
Vitesse – AZ starts tomorrow evening at 8 p.m. and can be followed live on NH Radio. The broadcast starts an hour earlier at 7 p.m.
World goal
Finally, the Youth League. AZ under nineteen against Barcelona won 3-0 yesterday on a visit to FC Barcelona. A great achievement with which the young Alkmaarders qualify for the quarter finals of this youthful Champions League set-up. The highlight was Kees Smit’s goal, a goal from the halfway line. “Fantastic moment in a beautiful match.”
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Real Madrid is the opponent for the Alkmaar talents in that quarter final of the Youth League. The game will take place in Wijdewormer at the training complex on March 14 or 15.