Even before he gave his first reaction, Ruud van Nistelrooij took a photo of Thijs Slegers out of his pocket. The PSV trainer indicated that Monday’s funeral touched him and Thijs also gave him strength and spirit.
“We wanted to reach that final for Thijs,” said Van Nistelrooij after the victory over Spakenburg in the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup tournament.
The trainer was at the funeral on Monday and that touched him. “I heard his wife speak there and you see his children… That touches you. My heart broke. But Thijs also gave me and others strength and spirit. I took that personally.”
“Thijs is a source of inspiration for many.”
Van Nistelrooij indicated that he did not include it in the match discussion. “This was something personal. I was at the funeral yesterday together with Luuk de Jong, as captain. Then I already felt that we had to reach that final for Thijs. The boys did a fantastic job.”
Finally, the coach said that he will admire Thijs forever. “Of course Thijs only turned 46, but what became especially clear after yesterday is that he is a source of inspiration for many. He has always remained combative.”
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