Club icon Barry van Galen looks back and ahead of the European semi-final: “You will never forget this”

Van Galen played the legendary European Cup matches against Sporting Lisbon in 2005. In the Alkmaarderhout, Co Adriaanse’s team went down 3-2 in the last minute, shattering the European dream. The first leg in Lisbon was lost 2-1 a week earlier.

Tragedy

NH Sport looked back on the memorable semi-final three years ago, exactly fifteen years after the tragedy against the Portuguese. After the elimination, many tears flowed and former trainer Co Adriaanse said: “You will never forget this. Van Galen even said: I will take this with me to my grave.”

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When we speak to Van Galen in the week of West Ham, he says he sees opportunities for the current team of coach Pascal Jansen. “AZ can catch anyone. We have been showing that for years. We are never outplayed.”

West Ham United beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Premier League last Sunday. This takes the team away from the bottom places in the English league. “It is a pity that they do not have relegation concerns now, because otherwise they would have focused more on the competition. Now I think they will play with their strongest formation,” said Van Galen.

In 2005, AZ defeated the Spanish Villareal in the quarterfinals. “We estimate Villareal higher than Sporting Lisbon. We thought that there was something to be gained against Sporting”, Van Galen looks back.

Last minute

In extra time against Sporting Lisbon, AZ also seemed to qualify for the final, but things went wrong in the last minute. “The most beautiful and most painful moment of my career.”

“The best thing is that we were one minute from the final. Then you are just in the final with a club like AZ. I think goals in the last minute are great. It was just a pity that it was against us,” says Van Galen dryly .