Trainer Lukkien hopes for a medical miracle for climax FC Groningen and Roda JC. ‘That can help us enormously’

Throughout the week there was a huge difference between the atmosphere in which FC Groningen prepared for the match of the year against Roda JC and the atmosphere in which the Kerkrade residents prepared for Friday evening’s promotion cracker. Where Dick Lukkien chose to continue to act as normal as possible, welcomed supporters and press to the training sessions and gave players plenty of space to sign autographs and take pictures with fans, Roda, from New Amsterdam, held coach Bas Sibum in South Limburg hermetically closed the shutters to all outsiders.

Enjoy the environment

Everything was different on Thursday during the last training. At that time, the people of Limburg were on par with the people of Groningen. Roda JC was cheered out by thousands of fans and a lot of yellow-black smoke for the all-deciding final of the season. In Euroborg, where FC Groningen moved to for training because of the perfect turf in the stadium, the supporters with dozens of torches and green smoke bombs also underlined the importance of direct promotion to the Premier League, the stakes of the clash between FC Groningen and Roda JC.

Lukkien enjoyed the entourage in the green cathedral. “The involvement of our fans has been fantastic, all season long. The presence of more than two thousand people at the training gives me goosebumps. It certainly stimulates and helps us. The boys feel that way too. They work hard for this club, they play with their heart. As a result, they have a great interaction with the audience. That’s a beautiful thing.”

Luciano Valente

At FC Groningen this week, eyes were mainly focused on Luciano Valente. The attacking midfielder seemed to be written off for this season due to an injury, but recovered miraculously quickly. Whether he can be there against Roda JC is still a question mark, but the signs are favorable. Last week’s match against Telstar (1-1) proved that Valente’s presence saves FC Groningen a sip of a drink. “He is very comfortable on the ball, brings creativity and is involved in both assists and goals in the final phase. That can help us enormously as a team,” Lukkien also knows.

According to the trainer, FC Groningen and Roda JC are quite evenly matched. “Roda JC is stable and solid. They have only lost four times in this competition. That says enough. On the other hand, we have had confidence in what we do for a long time. This provides relaxation compared to the healthy tension needed to perform. It could be a fantastic evening.”