FOOTBALL – One played 156 times in the FC Groningen shirt, the other even 171 times. Mike te Wierik and Maikel Kieftenbeld are two half ‘Grunnegers’ in the selection of FC Emmen. Both veterans also wish their old club the world, but not this afternoon. “But we are really looking forward to it. It is of course a wonderful match, in a full stadium.”
“FC Groningen as a club belongs in the Premier League,” said Te Wierik. “and as things have been going lately, they are well on their way to returning. Very good if you look at where they come from this season. They were even in thirteen or fourteenth place for a while.” The team of coach Dick Lukkien, who returns this afternoon for the first time to the club where he worked for seven years, is now in third place. The difference with Roda JC, which is in a direct promotion spot, is only one point.
“They have thrown in those young boys and they have provided fresh and attacking football. Moreover, with Duarte, when he is in shape, they have the best player in the Kitchen Champion Division in their ranks. So we can get excited. “
“Are they unbeatable at the moment? Absolutely not,” Kieftenbeld is resolute. “But it is clear that we have to perform better than against Jong Ajax in the first half, otherwise we will be 0-3 or 0-4 behind halfway through,” Te Wierik adds.
“How to beat FC Groningen? We have to deliver at least what we did after the break on Friday, both without and with the ball. And that is sometimes also by playing opportunistically. Just look at the 1-1. That is a textbook example. That is simply a deep ball to the striker, who lays it wide and is shot in by Desley Ubbink,” said Kieftenbeld. “And it’s true, that’s easier if you have a tall striker and not three little men in the vanguard like before half time.”
Who should be at the center of the attack this afternoon: The man who provided an assist and scored as a substitute on Friday (Maarten Pouwels), the club’s top scorer (Piotr Parzyszek) or Joey Konings, who was invisible before halftime against Jong Ajax and after the break made a strong impression? “I am very curious who will choose the trainer,” concludes Te Wierik.
