Where Ajax is on its way to Amsterdam after the sadness against Napoli (4-2), AZ is preparing in Cyprus for the European meeting with Apollon Limassol FC. AZ is the proud leader in Group E of the Conference League. “We want to win and play well.”
AZ has been in excellent shape for weeks. The Alkmaarders are unbeaten at the top of the Eredivisie and Pascal Jansen’s team won all three group matches in the Conference League. On Wednesday evening from the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Jansen made it clear that he was not satisfied with last week’s 3-2 win in Alkmaar over Apollon Limassol. “Then we didn’t reach our level and that made Apollon Limassol look better.”
To repair
“In the home game we gave away goals in a sloppy way,” says Pascal Jansen at the press conference. “Then you always have to repair things to eventually come out as the winner, that costs unnecessary energy.”
Zinho Vanheusden
Jansen has a fairly fit selection. Disappointment is the absence of Zinho Vanheusden. The Belgian defender suffered a foot injury against FC Utrecht, while he was just getting fit again. “That was an emotional moment for him. At the moment his foot is in plaster and we have to miss him for the time being.”
Furthermore, Bruno Martins Indi is also not in Cyprus. The captain will no longer be in action this calendar year. Apollon Limassol – AZ starts at 6:45 PM. And if they win, the Alkmaarders are as good as certain of European wintering.