Great concerns about KNVB Cup prior to Rutte press conference

‘Nothing to do with professional football’

Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at

Go Ahead Eagles easily reached the second round of the tournament for the TOTO KNVB Cup on Monday. The team from Deventer humiliated NAC Breda, plagued by the corona virus, partly thanks to a generous lead after already playing for nineteen minutes: 6-0. Before the corona virus hit NAC, the team was proudly at the top of the Kitchen Champion Division. Since then, two league defeats followed and thus a cup debacle in De Adelaarshorst.

Maurice Steijn said against just before kick-off FOX Sports that he would rather not have played the cup match at all because of the corona outbreak within the selection. “Ten players have been affected by the corona virus. We find it irresponsible to play three incredibly tough matches in six days. ” Afterwards, he did not want to blame the corona virus for the fat defeat. After nineteen minutes, NAC was already 5-0 behind and eventually managed to prevent a monster loss.

“How we gave away those goals has nothing to do with professional football”, was Steijn’s harsh judgment. The NAC coach was asked what he thought when he saw the score on the scoreboard after nineteen minutes. “Intervene”, was his answer. “Intervene, play with five defenders to avoid an even bigger monster score.”

Steijn took Lewis Fiorini to the side for Darwin Heuvelman and with a 4-4-2 formation he hoped that his team would manage to avoid an even bigger beating. In any case, the players of NAC succeeded in that until half time. In the second half, the 6-0 fell. He did not want to point too much to the corona virus. “You could say ‘we’ve lost a lot of people’, but if you defend like that … There is no excuse for that,” acknowledged the trainer of the Breda team.

“I am glad that I intervened afterwards. When ten thousand people are here, you can no longer reach your players. We have to forget about this match very quickly. ” Mounir El Allouchi put his hand in his own bosom and did not find the absence of twelve players an excuse. “We, experienced players, have dropped the young boys,” the captain said. “There are some Under-21 boys who are doing their very best and then they have a match like that. That’s not nice. Not for anyone, by the way. There were eleven full-fledged first-team players, they just have to be there. ”

Earlier in the evening, Excelsior qualified as the first team for the second round. The Rotterdam team beat Helmond Sport 4-0 on their own field. This week, only matches between two clubs from professional football will be played in the first round. The matches of the clubs that play at a lower level have been moved to the beginning of December. Because of the corona virus, they are not allowed to take action for the time being.