The frustration and disbelief increases with the match at FC Groningen. The team of trainer Dennis van der Ree lost against FC Utrecht for the fifth time in a row on Friday and needs a miracle to stay in the Eredivisie.
“Despite the fact that you don’t necessarily play badly, the conviction doesn’t exactly splash off”, was the hard observation of goalkeeper Michael Verrips. ESPN after the duel with FC Utrecht. They lost 1-2, while FC Groningen was not inferior to FC Utrecht, especially before the break.
“I thought that FC Utrecht did not play football well”, said Jetro Willems, who had to be replaced injured just before the break. “If you put pressure on their defense, they panic a bit. But we didn’t stick to our plan after the break. We started doing strange things.”
Due to the loss, the chance of survival has only decreased for FC Groningen, which has played continuously at the highest level since 2000. The gap to the competition is already seven points and could increase further later this weekend.
“It gets harder every week, but I keep believing in it,” said Verrips. “We try something different every week. It’s difficult to discover why it doesn’t work. When I look around in the dressing room I just see a lot of quality, but the frustrating thing is that it doesn’t come out.”
Van der Ree does not want to throw in the towel
The new defeat also hit Van der Ree hard. The trainer attributes the new defeat mainly to a lack of scoring ability in his team. “We lack quality in that,” he said. “We have to create a lot of chances to score one goal at all.”
Van der Ree, who took over from the fired Frank Wormuth during the season, does not think about throwing in the towel after the defeat. “That’s not up to me,” he said. “I have to focus on the next game.”
“It’s the same story every week, but it’s crying and continuing. We still have six games and there are still eighteen points to be won. It’s getting harder and harder, but we haven’t been relegated yet. I have to keep up the spirit.”
Stand onder in Eredivisie
- 13. FC Volendam 27-27 (-25)
- 14. Vitesse 27-24 (-17)
- 15. FC Emmen 27-24 (-21)
- 16. Excelsior 27-24 (-36)
- 17. FC Groningen 28-17 (-30)
- 18. SC Cambuur 27-16 (-30)
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