That important sliding in the 89th minute of the match was the last bit of energy Clasie had left. And that is understandable, because Clasie was one of the players who was affected by the flu virus. “A big compliment for what he has achieved,” says coach Maarten Martens about his captain.
AZ’s run-up was therefore different than normal. The team of coach Maarten Martens completed the last training in the stadium and went into quarantine for some time. Kees Smit, Ibrahim Sadiq and Kristijan Belic were missing, but miraculously the trainer had almost all his players at his disposal.
Winter break
With those players, Martens saw that AZ was the deserved winner in the match against FC Twente. As a result, AZ enters the winter break as number five in the Premier League. The Alkmaarders jump over the Tukkers. “If you remember the last matches, you go into the winter break with a good feeling,” said Martens.