Bram van Polen sees a nice metaphor in Max Verstappen’s world title. The 36-year-old captain of PEC Zwolle saw Verstappen grab the win in the final lap of the decisive race in Formula 1, a scenario from which Van Polen’s club can draw motivation, according to him. For the time being, PEC has had a bad start to the season and is at the bottom of the Eredivisie with six points from sixteen matches.
Van Polen was allowed to fill in for half an hour on Tuesday in the oh so welcome win in the TOTO KNVB Cup against MVV Maastricht (4-0). The defender returned from a hamstring injury and finally saw the team of trainer Dick Schreuder, who recorded his first victory, impress. “It’s nice to fill in, even if you’re leading 2-0,” says Van Polen in front of the camera of ESPN. “We made that 3-0 very quickly, which is unprecedented luxury here.” However, the veteran had trouble keeping up with the pace after his injury: “Substitutions were tough again… after ten minutes I had my tongue on my shoe.”
The previous victory of the Zwolle people dates back to October 26: when De Graafschap was set aside 4-1 in the first round of the cup. The last victory in the competition took place three days earlier against Heracles Almelo (1-0). Van Polen feels the sporting malaise at the club. “You can see that we are doing quite well struggle there is not much confidence in the team. I hope a race like this gives some confidence.”
Van Polen also sees a good example in Verstappen of how top sport can work. “I especially stick to last Sunday with Max. In the very last lap it can turn around completely, we have to stick to that too. There is always a chance. We are in very bad shape in the Eredivisie, but they always say here: Never despair(never despair, ed.).”