There was no cup match on the program for FC Volendam this week, so the focus could be completely on tomorrow’s competition match with MVV Maastricht. In the last eight years, the North Hollanders only won once in South Limburg. “MVV is always a difficult opponent for Volendam,” trainer Wim Jonk told NH Sport.
In October FC Volendam already became eliminated by FC Emmen in the KNVB Cup. Jonk is disappointed that he now has to follow the tournament on television. “It is a great pity that we are no longer in the cup. I just think that is a great competition, so you want to get as far as possible in that. I like to try to win everything.”
Last season, PSV was too strong in the eighth finals. “It is a wonderful stage for the players and for the club. Everyone was talking about that match against PSV last year
We lost, but we cut an excellent figure.”
Lineup changes
The leader of the first division can therefore fully focus on the away game against MVV. Last week against NAC Breda (0-0) Jonk made four changes. He doesn’t seem to stick to the same eleven players tomorrow either. “Not four, but it may be that one or two are different. We will see that tomorrow. In any case, they are choices to gain our advantage at least at the beginning of the game. Then we will see how the game develops afterwards.” develops.”
FC Volendam won only one of the last seven matches in Maastricht. That was more than five years ago. “That says enough,” says Jonk. “MVV is always a difficult opponent for Volendam. But that is the history, you always look at the now. We have to have our positional game in order. If that is the case, we will also have opportunities against MVV tomorrow evening.” Earlier this season, the fishing village beat the number fourteen in the ranking: 5-0.
The journey to Maastricht is more than 2.5 hours for FC Volendam. Still leaves The New Orange to the south tomorrow afternoon. “The players are used to that. I take a good book with me and we talk about football with each other. Then the time is up,” Jonk laughs.
Three absentees
Jonk cannot yet have Dean James, Derry John Murkin and Brian Plat against MVV. Things are going in the right direction with Plat. The central defender, who was replaced last week by debutant Benaissa Benamar, is now training on the field again. The Volendammers will be spared a corona wave for the time being, because all players have been tested negative.
MVV Maastricht – FC Volendam starts tomorrow evening at 8 p.m. NH Sport will of course be there live. The broadcast on NH Radio starts an hour earlier.