AZ will no longer continue with Timo Letschert, Pascal Jansen confirms during the press conference in the run-up to the Conference League match with Jablonec. The defender is not included in the match selection in the run-up to the meeting with the Czechs and can look forward to a new employer. Letschert has been discredited several times this season, including in the away game against FC Twente, when he decided to drive back to Alkmaar on his own after an early substitution.
“In consultation it has been decided that it is better for Timo to look for a future elsewhere,” Jansen said during the press conference. Jansen indicates that there has been a conversation between AZ and the center defender, in which the latter has been told that he will no longer be in action. “And he’s at a stage of his career where he wants to play.” The last time Letschert made minutes in the AZ shirt was on September 23 at FC Twente. However, the defender made a hopeless mistake with a goal against and was then taken off by Jansen after 22 minutes.
Letschert then decided to return to Alkmaar alone. “We have not approved that,” said the AZ trainer about that action. “Afterwards he was very disappointed in his performance. Timo wants to perform optimally and he failed to do that. He feels responsible for that. He is extremely self-critical.” Letschert and Jansen spoke to each other afterwards, after which the mandekker was left out of the game selection in the following game. “I will not comment on the nature of a possible punishment. But I still support my choice.”
Jansen has no idea whether Letschert’s contract will be torn up. The defender came transfer-free from Hamburger SV last summer and has a contract until 2023. There is a chance that AZ will try to sell him for a fee next winter. Due to the decision of the Alkmaarders, Jansen has only one center defender with Sam Beukema. The center of AZ is formed by Bruno Martins Indi and Pantelis Hatzidiakos.
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