Even after six defeats in a row, trainer Dennis van der Ree still believes that he can keep FC Groningen for the premier league. ,,Giving up is not an option.”
Coach Dennis van der Ree was calculating aloud on Friday afternoon behind the press conference table of FC Groningen. If Saturday evening’s match against NEC finally yields three points again and the very last on May 28 against Sparta also with a full Euroborg behind it, then in the meantime only one more win needs to be won against Go Ahead Eagles, Ajax or Vitesse . If FC Emmen, which has a very tough program, then loses everything, it is still possible. ,,Especially if Emmen also gets the jitters when we get closer”, Van der Ree predicts.
Rising confidence
It is clear: the trainer, despite the fact that he has only won one victory in all the months that he has been at the helm, has not given up hope yet. ,,And neither do the players”, is Van der Ree’s conviction. ,,We keep thinking ‘we are going to win the next game’, despite that series of defeats. Of course we have to deal with the disappointment from week to week, but we still see areas where we can do better. Then I draw confidence from that. If I then transfer it, I also see the confidence of the players increase during such a training week.”
Motivation
There is also no shortage of motivation, according to Van der Ree. “I pay particular attention to it. Do they just say that they still believe in it or is it really true? I notice that the faith is really still there. And not only we believe in it; there are also 20,000 people in the stadium again. That also says something. It won’t be for everyone, but most people won’t come because they’ve already given up. So we have to do it not only for ourselves, but certainly also for our supporters. That’s how you try to rekindle the sacred fire.”
Fighting for the club
And then there is also the sense of honor and the individual interest to end up well as a footballer again after this season. Van der Ree: ,,It is never good if you have a relegation behind your name, so we certainly talk about that with each other. I sense in myself and also in the players the energy and the urge to win a game. The boys want to fight for the club, for themselves and for the supporters. In fact, I haven’t missed it for a moment.”
Balker right back
FC Groningen will have to face NEC without goalkeeper Michael Verrips, who will probably no longer play this season due to an injury. Second keeper Peter Leeuwenburgh takes his place. Radinio Balker is right back instead of in the center. He moves at the expense of Damil Dankerlui. ,,I think that we have the strongest guys in the back, players who can also be important during set pieces”, explains Van der Ree. NEC misses star player Oussama Tannane.