AZ-FC Emmen had already played at half-time, and then the people of Emmen faced a hopeless 5-0 deficit. Midfielder Mark Diemers immediately stood in front of the ESPN camera with his analysis afterwards. ,,We all had an off first half.”
Especially in terms of choices, there was quite a bit wrong with his team’s game, Diemers thought. ,,We wanted to cover in places where we cannot cover and that often left too much room in our backs. AZ is very good at taking advantage of that.”
‘We didn’t duel’
But that wasn’t the only thing. ,,We weren’t good on the ball either, and AZ was able to switch much too easily because of that. They are very good at that with runners, with Reijnders and Pavlidis moving behind them and with good wingers and a good overlap from the back. Yes, then it is difficult to defend that. If you are not in a good position, it is very difficult to defend shorter. You really want to but you don’t get into a duel.”
How did FC Emmen think it could compensate for the creative predominance of AZ in midfield, with men like Tijjani Reijnders and Jordy Clasie? “By sitting close to it and putting pressure on it. But then you have to connect well from the back and that didn’t happen”, Diemers said. “That allowed them to pass and they came into their power.”
Feyenoord at full strength
Coming Sunday, brand new champion Feyenoord will be the next opponent, on the Meerdijk. But Diemers has no illusions that FC Emmen can benefit from a partying Feyenoord. ,,I know Arne Slot pretty well now”, said the mercenary of the team from Rotterdam in Emmer’s service, ,,who will say from Wednesday, Thursday: now fully prepare because there are still guys who want to become top scorers. I can call all I want, but I don’t think it will do any good.”