While last week it was only about the takeover, NAC has to play another game on Friday evening. The takeover is keeping things busy in Breda after it was announced last week that the City Football Group (CFG) had reached an agreement with the three largest shareholders. It caused a lot of resistance from the supporters, something that trainer Edwin de Graaf understands, but he had a good feeling about CFG in terms of football.
Edwin de Graaf spoke with the City Football Group last week. The trainer felt good about that. “They are very ambitious and want to go to the Eredivisie with NAC. They also asked about my ambitions and how I wanted to fill this in. I told them. I had a good feeling about football.”
The head coach emphasizes that he does not have a strong opinion about the takeover. “I know too little about other substantive matters. I also have no influence on some matters, so I can’t worry about it.”
Those who do have a strong opinion are the supporters. All supporters groups are against the takeover of the City Football Group. De Graaf understands that. “I can well imagine that there are many questions about this acquisition. It is logical that supporters are unsure about this.”
De Graaf is in his first year as a trainer of NAC. A year that is not yet really successful. He also discussed this with the potential new owner. “I have indicated that I am not looking forward to another year like this. We all want NAC to participate in the championship. They also had those ambitions.” Incidentally, De Graaf does not yet know whether he will also be a trainer of NAC next season. He has an expiring contract in Breda, but has not yet discussed this with CFG.
Despite the fact that it is restless in Breda, another home game is scheduled for Friday. NAC still has to pull out all the stops to reach the post-competition. Is it now more difficult to keep the focus on football?
“Absolutely not”, according to De Graaf. “Working with those guys is the best thing there is. The players also close well. Of course they read things and do research. It makes sense that they want to know what is happening at the club, but they don’t have one either. influence on.”
Odysseus Velanas agrees with his trainer’s words. “As a group, of course, we read everything in the media. But we have also agreed to focus on football. We can do no more than wait.”