Of course there was disappointment after the loss against Roda JC. It was also the third defeat in a row for FC Emmen. But no matter who you spoke to: it was again unnecessary and that provides guidance.
Whether it says something that FC Emmen does not seem to be able to win against direct competitors. Not a crazy question considering the fact that the team, after SC Cambuur, ADO Den Haag, FC Groningen and Willem II, also failed to take full advantage against Roda JC. But Jari Vlak thought that was far too easy, as he said afterwards in the catacombs of De Oude Meerdijk stadium.
“I think we played much better than Roda JC, but the ball just didn’t fall in,” said the FC Emmen captain. “Then we can say that we lose to competitors, but we were also better against ADO Den Haag for eighty minutes. It’s only bad if you’re worse than all of them and then lose. We have to hold on to the fact that we were better. Those goals will happen automatically. ”
Vlak labeled the defeat against Roda JC as ‘unnecessary’, just like those earlier this season against ADO Den Haag and last week against FC Eindhoven. These were also matches in which FC Emmen was the better, but still left empty-handed afterwards. “We have really done everything we can, sometimes you also have to have a bit of luck. At the same time, their ball is not allowed in.”
The Volendammer was referring to the goal of Roda JC standout Walid Ould-Chikh in injury time just before half-time. “We had the ball on the side but lost it, after which I got into a sprint duel with Ould-Chikh. He was just a little faster, but still the corner was difficult. I am convinced that if Jan [Hoekstra, red.] had remained standing, that the ball could not have gone in.”
‘Maybe I should have given him a push’
The midfielder, who is one of the driving forces in coach Fred Grim’s team this season, was also slightly guilty himself. “Maybe I should have given Ould-Chikh a little push to throw him off balance. I know that boy a little and he cuts a lot. That’s why I didn’t want to use a tackle in any case. But giving it a push with my left hand would have worked…”
It was all an afterthought, the third defeat in a row was already a fact. Instead of taking second place shared with Roda JC, FC Emmen plummeted to fifth place in the rankings. With one match to go, away at FC Dordrecht on Saturday, the first half of the season seems to have a sour taste due to the past few weeks. Without all those ‘unnecessary’ losses, the Drenthe team were at the top.
“Of course you never want to set up such a negative series,” Vlak continued. “We could have made it much easier for ourselves by just winning those games and putting ourselves in a better position, but it happened and we have to move on. We also shouldn’t look too much at others, we have to work with ourselves and become more clinical for the goal.”
‘Be honest: what was wrong with our game?’
An observation that his trainer fully agreed with. “We have to take advantage of our opportunities and be less naive when we concede goals,” said Fred Grim. “We wanted to solve it through football. While the players have to recognize that the ball simply has to go into the stands, for example. Now we suffered a mental blow at a crucial moment just before half time.”
Grim also thought the defeat was unnecessary and was therefore mild towards his players at half-time and afterwards. “Because let’s be honest: what was wrong with our game, especially before half time and from halfway through the second half? If it’s bad I’ll be the first to say so, but it was just fine. The way we play and want to win the match is certainly a point of reference for me.”