AZ booked a beautiful 1-2 victory over Lazio in Rome tonight. Trainer Pascal Jansen of the Alkmaarders saw his team recover gloriously after a difficult opening phase. “The first quarter was survival.”
“This is very satisfying. We presented ourselves in a way that is worthy of AZ,” says Jansen after the match in front of the camera of ESPN. “We managed to keep one of the better teams in Europe under pressure.”
“Unfortunately you conceded a sloppy goal. Fortunately, we came into the game better after fifteen to twenty minutes. The goals scored today are part of how we would like to see it. We conquer the ball high on the field and manage to score twice well .”
However, AZ cannot and will not be able to enjoy it for long, according to Jansen. “We are not there yet. I just told the boys in the dressing room that we are only in the halftime of the game. We then also have to play the return. Later in the hotel it will be fun, but the focus is again at FC Groningen this weekend.”
In nine days, on Thursday, March 16, the return between the two teams is scheduled. At stake is a place in the quarter-finals of the Conference League. Next Saturday, AZ will first play at home against FC Groningen (kick-off at 8 p.m.).