“It is a serious opponent to be reckoned with, despite the image that is being painted of Vaduz.” That is what AZ coach Pascal Jansen says at the press conference prior to the match against FC Vaduz. The club from Liechtenstein will visit Alkmaar tomorrow. Vaduz only plays at the second level in Switzerland, but surprised in the previous round by eliminating Austria’s Rapid Wien.
With FC Vaduz, AZ will meet a team that has already written history in Europe. For the first time, a club from Liechtenstein is participating in a European main tournament. And that while the club plays at the second level in Switzerland, because the country does not have its own league. Despite the unappealing opponent, Jansen does not guard against underestimation. “We also don’t look at Vaduz with a slanted eye and only then at Ajax”.
Mister 1-0
Last week Dani de Wit was the match winner in Slovakia. The attacking midfielder signed for the 1-0 against Dnipro-1. That goal symbolizes the form in which De Wit is, because in Europe he already made the opening goal three times in six games this season. “I am someone who tries to set the tone from the start,” says De Wit.
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Dani de Wit does not want to be called ‘Mister 1-0’ – NH Sport / Stephan Brandhorst
Although this summer it was feared that there would be a new exodus at AZ, a number of bright spots surfaced. Myron van Brederode, Tijjani Reijnders and Milos Kerkez make quite an impression. The latter has made Owen Wijndal, who left for Ajax this summer, forget in Alkmaar.
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Milos Kerkez makes Owen Wijndal forget at AZ – NH Sport / Stephan Brandhorst
The Alkmaarders lack the long-term injured Jesper Karlsson and Vangelis Pavlidis. Hakon Evjen was injured against FC Twente and is not yet in the game. Bruno Martins Indi, who missed the last two matches, is back in the match selection. Whether the central defender will start in the base is still unknown.
The match between AZ and FC Vaduz starts tomorrow evening at 6.45 pm in Alkmaar.
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