Robin van Persie‘s start as coach of SC Heerenveen has not yet been a resounding success in terms of results: the Frisians resume the competition on Saturday evening as number fifteen. NEC is the opponent in Nijmegen. As far as Van Persie is concerned, a turnaround must begin in Gelderland that will ultimately lead to European football.
At least: in terms of results, that is. The Rotterdammer is much more pleased with the field game. ‘I think it’s very simple that you should have scored six points based on the past two games, against Heracles-away and PEC Zwolle-home. If all goes well, maybe four. But certainly not one,” the coach said on the club website after a defeat in Almelo and a draw against PEC in their own stadium, just before the international break.
On Saturday, against the also underperforming NEC (sixteenth), Van Persie wants three points, because his ambitions are high. ‘We’re also going for the win tomorrow. We do that every match, because we have a clear idea of what we want: to reach the play-offs for European football. And hopefully we will even be able to qualify directly for Europe. I don’t think we should be afraid to say that. I don’t do that to act tough, but because I find it really realistic.’
To enforce European football through the competition, Heerenveen must finish in fifth place, sixth place may also be sufficient for a direct ticket. That depends on who wins the cup. In De Goffert, Heerenveen only misses striker Daniël Karlsbakk, who is absent with a minor injury. NEC coach Rogier Meijer said that Philippe Sandler and Dirk Proper are not available for the red-black-green.
In the run-up to NEC – Heerenveen, we spoke to prominent figures around both clubs, who have high hopes for sporting improvement:
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