The match of the year for AZ fans is their club’s confrontation against Ajax. It’s that time again on Sunday. In Alkmaar, the two North Holland clubs compete for fifth place. Both teams are not in good shape, but there is even more tension. “These are charged duels,” said Maarten Martens. With the AZ coach we look ahead and also look back a bit.
Maarten Martens looks back on matches against Ajax as a player for AZ – NH News
Maarten Martens will make his debut as a trainer on Sunday in the match against Ajax, while as a footballer he competed against the Amsterdam team many times. “The first thing I think of is the moment with Esteban,” the Belgian coach looks back on the insane situation in 2011 when an Ajax supporter attacked the AZ goalkeeper in the back. “That was in Amsterdam, now we are playing at home and I expect a great game of football.”
“I think we have to show immediately on Sunday that we are the favourites”
Martens also remembers well the 3-2 victory in front of his own audience in August 2013. After a long rehabilitation, he came on half an hour before the end and provided the pinpoint assist on Viktor Elm’s winning goal. “If you experience success in these types of duels, it is a great feeling.”
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AZ coach Maarten Martens thought Ajax’s win was nice – NH News
This time Martens has to watch from the side to see how his players fare. Yet confidence has increased considerably in Alkmaar in the last week. AZ itself won last weekend when it visited Fortuna Sittard (1-2) and Ajax won with more luck than wisdom in Norway against Bodø/Glimt (2-3). “In the end it is a great victory,” said a fairly positive Martens about Sunday’s opponent.
On Sunday, NH Sport will report live from AZ – Ajax in an extra-long radio broadcast. After the North Holland cracker, we are also live at FC Volendam – sc Heerenveen.
“There are certainly opportunities for Sunday,” is Martens’ expectation. “I think we have to show right away that we are the favorites. We do this by starting well with the ball and being aggressive when we lose the ball.”
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Maarten Martens about his first month as coach of AZ – NH News
Martens has an almost fit selection against the team from Amsterdam. Only the injured players Ibrahim Sadiq and Lewis Schouten are missing. AZ – Ajax starts on Sunday at 4:45 PM and the difference in the rankings is three points in favor of the Alkmaarders.
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