NEC’s performance against PSV has of course not gone unnoticed. Where it mainly concerns the loss of the leader, NEC also receives the compliments. This also applies to Studio Voetbal.
“I certainly enjoyed NEC,” says Pierre van Hooijdonk. “I especially liked the way it was done. NEC was really battered.” Dirk Proper, Tjaronn Chery and Koki Ogawa were not there against the leader. “Those are three guys who are normally in the starting line-up.”
Van Hooijdonk saw that the Nijmegen team started the game strongly. “That PSV goal came a bit out of nowhere. They have a lot of footballing ability. With Kodai Sano and Lasse Schöne in midfield together with Mees Hoedemakers, they are in triangles all the time. Then you can continue playing football from midfield. They could compete with PSV in football and they did not shy away from duels.”
Meijer and Aalbers
“I especially liked the trainer, Rogier Meijer,” says Ibrahim Affelay. “Considering he was on the kicker a few months ago. He got this club promoted and achieved excellent results every year. He continued stoically and I think that is very good. Especially with the pushback he has had.” Arno Vermeulen agrees with this. “And Carlos Aalbers who gets the good players. The collaboration there is optimal at the moment.”
Compliments for Cillessen
Another man who was of course appointed was goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen. The keeper ensured that PSV did not get back into the match by stopping a penalty from Luuk de Jong. “I think this is really nice,” says Van Hooijdonk while a cheering Cillessen can be seen on the images. “You have to remember that that boy has really been through a lot in the past year. Everyone has fallen all over him and not always in a nice way. Then you make a number of big mistakes and cost NEC points. Now he’s coming back.”
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Cillessen made some statements afterwards in some interviews he did about his past with penalties. Van Hooijdonk was not annoyed by that. “Is that spiteful? Yeah so? Shouldn’t that be the case then,” the free kick specialist wonders out loud. “I think that’s a good quality. You can get your motivation from that.”
Vermeulen did not completely agree with his fellow table guest. “I understand, but he is tried and tested: Dutch national team, FC Barcelona, Valencia, etc. Then he tries to prove himself right.” Van Hooijdonk interrupts. “That’s emotion. Just put yourself in the head of such a goalkeeper.”
Photos: Rob Koppers
