In the last episode of the NOS Football Podcast, the cup final was extensively discussed, with praise being given to NEC for their performance.
Presenters Arno Vermeulen, Jeroen Elshoff, Jeroen Grueter and Jan Roelfs shared their impressions of the competition. “You think in advance of such a match about how it would go, especially how such a final would start,” Vermeulen noted. “Then you have a pattern in your head in which Feyenoord is immediately in charge and the opponent, in this case NEC, pushes back. Then you think: ‘It is hoped that NEC will get through the first fifteen minutes defensively’.”
“However, it is completely different,” he added. “NEC flies out of the starting blocks, grabs Feyenoord by the throat and doesn’t let go for a long time. How clever is what they actually did in the final? ”Jeroen Grueter shared that admiration: “Very good. NEC played a very strong game tactically. They came to De Kuip with a lot of courage, just wanted to present themselves and went for the win. They didn’t think ‘maybe we can steal that cup here’. No, they really wanted to conquer it. In that respect I really enjoyed it.”
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Team performance
Jan Roelfs thought it was a very good team performance by NEC. “It was very good at the center back with Nuytinck and Sandler. They are well attuned to each other. It exudes so much certainty. Physically strong too. I thought Chery played football very well, despite the fact that he had to do defensive chores. Van Rooij was also good, just back from injury. But apart from that, especially at NEC you cannot speak of players who did not deliver. NEC has performed to its maximum potential. They may have felt a little shortchanged. Things could have turned out very differently if Chery’s ball had not been 5 centimeters offside; then it would have been a goal and Feyenoord should have tried to turn it around.”
“NEC can continue this way. They can still reach European football through the rankings,” said Arno Vermeulen. Jeroen Grueter adds: “Interesting match next weekend: NEC – AZ. Then they can show what they are worth at home.” Jeroen Elshoff commented: “Based on this level you would say: ‘NEC actually deserves direct European football. You would give it to them. It is Rogier Meijer’s breakthrough as a trainer this season. He coached this game very maturely.’”
Photos: Rob Koppers
