Trainer Alfons Arts adjusts FC Emmen’s line-up in two positions. ‘But it shouldn’t become a dovecote’

Compared to the close victory over Telstar, FC Emmen coach Alfons Arts adjusted his starting line-up in two positions.

While Emmen was preparing for the arrival of the king on Friday, FC Emmen coach Alfons Arts watched on the couch at home in the evening as the competitors lost points for the play-offs. MVV lost to De Graafschap at De Vijverberg and VVV-Venlo surprisingly lost to Den Bosch in De Koel.

Arts saw the goals on ESPN’s bridging program. Every time the competitors’ club logos filled the screen, it was equally exciting for the coach. “Of course I clenched my fist every time MVV and VVV-Venlo conceded a goal. Although we have to keep ourselves busy,” said the coach.

U-turn

More than a week ago, the world looked very different in Velsen-Zuid, after half of playing against Telstar. FC Emmen was trailing 2-0 at that time and the play-offs were further away than ever. After the break, the Drenthe team turned the deficit into a 3-2 win and after the defeats of MVV and VVV-Venlo, FC Emmen once again has complete control over reaching the play-offs.

“That’s football,” Arts said a day before the meeting with Helmond Sport. “From our start at FC Emmen we have said that as long as there is one niemienienie there is a chance of the play-offs, we have to go for it. That was the objective as agreed at the start of the season. That niemienienie chance has now increased again. We have to make sure we win our games and at the same time hope that the competition drops points.”

For the fans

Arts does not believe that Friday’s results should influence the motivation of his selection. “The motivation has to come from other things. There will be 8,000 supporters in the stadium again on Monday. They come to see our players. We have to ensure that they go home happy at ten o’clock in the evening. The fans have supported the club enormously in recent years. We need that support again on Monday. We in turn are obliged to give them what they are entitled to.”

Arts knows that FC Emmen must present itself differently than a week and a half ago against Telstar. “We didn’t play well in that match. We conceded few chances, but we also created almost nothing. We gave away the goals with childish ease. We played excellently for half an hour in the second half, but the final phase should no longer be exciting.”

Adjustments

In order to start well from the start against Helmond Sport, Arts adjusts his team in two places compared to the starting eleven in Velsen-Zuid. Ben Scholte, who came on as an excellent substitute against Telstar, is on the field from the first whistle. He replaces Desley Ubbink. Joey Konings gives up his place in the attack to Bradly van Hoeven, who has fully recovered from an injury.

In the center of the defense, Arts once again opts for the duo Dennis Vos and Julius Dirksen. Michaël Heylen, who has returned from suspension, therefore starts on the bench. “That’s annoying for Mika, but Dennis and Julius did well,” Arts explained his choice. “There is no reason to change anything there. We do that at the front. We strive for as much stability as possible. It shouldn’t become a dovecote.”