FC Groningen is looking for rehabilitation after the ignominious defeat against Jong FC Utrecht. There will probably be a different line-up against Willem II on Sunday than last Monday. Base places beckon for Thijmen Blokzijl and Luciano Valente.
The defeat of FC Groningen, last Monday against Jong FC Utrecht, had a major impact on the four hundred fans who traveled along. With disposable gestures and a massive ‘shame on you’, the players were sent to the showers of the Galgenwaard after the final whistle.
Last season’s relegation has clearly left an open wound with a large part of FC Groningen’s supporters. ,,If some salt is also sprinkled in it, it hurts a lot”, says Lukkien. “We are busy helping to heal that open wound. That means you also have to look ahead.”
‘Pretty worthless’
Lukkien saw that some players were shocked by the reactions of the fans. “They feel the pain themselves. They are proud that four hundred men are traveling to Utrecht and the players do not want to leave them out in the cold. If the fans feel that way, it’s pretty worthless. You would have to ask the players themselves, but with some such a reaction does something. Especially the players who experienced last season.”
Like the fans, Lukkien was shocked by his team’s play. “I called it lazy. But the fans must realize that it is not the intention to play football like this. It is important that the players and fans understand each other. We need to get the labyrinthine out. It has to be better, especially in the final phase. Against Jong FC Utrecht we often got the ball between the lines, but especially in the final phase it was very sloppy.”
Uncertainties
In the run-up to the duel against Willem II, there is a lot of uncertainty. Bacuna, Balker and Rente are all sick(ies). Rente in particular has had a hard time and left home early on Friday. As a result, Thijmen Blokzijl beckons his first base place of this season. Lukkien also seems to be making way for Luciano Valente and Daleho Irandust.
Whether Lukkien would also have put the knife in his basic eleven if he had not had to deal with ailing players remains a guess. ,,I am always open and honest, but I don’t think it would be useful to answer that question”, said the Veendammer.
There is no basic place for newcomer Noam Emeran against Willem II. The attacker, who came over from Manchester United, trained with the group for the first time on Friday. “He is a mature and open boy. He is someone who can dribble, pass, is fast and can score a goal. But I do want to give him time to get used to it. He will be there on Sunday, but he is not in the starting line-up.”
Johan Hove will probably sit next to Emeran on the couch on Sunday. The Norwegian, who is allowed to leave for a limited transfer fee, is still a player of FC Groningen. On Monday, Lukkien kept the midfielder out of the selection. “There seemed to be an agreement. He was stressed about that. I noticed that he was not ready to play”, said Lukkien. “That is different now. He can handle it better. I spoke to him on Wednesday and I said that as long as he is an FC Groningen player, he is part of the group. We expect him to do his stinking best. And he does.”