With four games to go, it’s more exciting than ever at the bottom. Five more teams are battling relegation. Two of those five teams are ours: RKC and Willem II. They have to pull out all the stops. Former football players Ad van de Wiel and Robert Braber are divided about the chances of their old clubs. But they dare not give a concrete prediction.
“I went to see RKC last Saturday, how bad that was… But Willem II may be even worse.” Ad van de Wiel is clear when asked about the situation with the two Brabant relegation candidates. The former striker is not happy and fears the worst.
“My hope for a good outcome is less and less. RKC might still be able to save it, because they are still above the line. Then FC Groningen must be won on Sunday evening. If that does not happen, it seems to me a difficult story .”
“Now that the lower spots are getting closer again, there is a different pressure involved”
Rober Braber is more positive. “Perhaps I have too much hope, I think both teams will still make it. RKC has shown that it can make it difficult for top teams and has been above the line all season. Willem II also showed it at the beginning of the season There’s more quality there than everyone says.”
But Braber does have a caveat. “It will take some switching for RKC. They have been reasonably safe above the line all season. Now that the bottom places are getting closer, there is another pressure involved. Fortunately, they have enough experienced guys in the team.”
“I like to bet in life, but I don’t dare to bet money on this.”
Willem II was not really a relegation candidate at all in Braber’s eyes. “But then suddenly that bad series came. Given the material, I think they should not be there. Sometimes it just didn’t seem like a close team. You do need that. Hopefully last week’s victory did them good.”
Van de Wiel thinks that Willem II will have to fight to make it to the post-competition. “Then I can see it going well, because they are better than the teams from the Kitchen Champion Division.”
Asked for a concrete prediction, both men say the same: “This relegation battle is unpredictable. There are such crazy results, let’s hope they turn out well for Willem II and RKC,” says Braber
Van de Wiel, who once gambled a ton, reacts with self-mockery. “As you know, I like to bet in my life, but I don’t dare to bet money on this relegation battle. I have too many doubts and fear the worst. But I also hope they both stay in it. They are two very nice clubs. “
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