Captain Teun Koopmeiners states that the AZ players group supports the dismissal of trainer Arne Slot. The 42-year-old coach was fired on Saturday because he is in talks with competitor Feyenoord about the vacant trainer position from next season.
“I couldn’t even speak to the trainer anymore or he was already in the car”, Koopmeiners said on Sunday after the defeat against FC Groningen (1-2). FOX Sports. “That’s the crazy thing about the football world. It’s very chaotic, hectic and unusual. You rarely experience a day like that.”
“Ultimately, as players we support the decision, but it is a shame, because Arne was a very good trainer for us”, the captain continued. “We want to thank him for that. The end did not go smoothly.”
AZ had a frustrating afternoon against FC Groningen. The Alkmaarders ended the game with red cards for Fredrik Midtsjø and Bruno Martins Indi with nine men and to make matters worse, they lost 1-2.
“That red card is not smart of us, Midtsjø just comes too late. Then you call it out about yourself. I don’t think I should say anything about it”, says Koopmeiners, who says he has confidence in the passed-on assistant Pascal Jansen, who completes the season. “We wanted to show our confidence in Pascal with a win, but that didn’t happen.”
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Calvin Stengs and Teun Koopmeiners are disappointed after FC Groningen’s equalizer. (Photo: ANP)
Stengs: ‘Departure is very unfortunate’
Calvin Stengs also speaks of hectic days in Alkmaar. He regrets Slot’s dismissal. “This trainer has given us a lot”, he emphasized FOX Sports. “He stands for what we are playing now and he introduced that idea to us. It is difficult and hard, but it is the way it is.”
“At first I thought: why and why? Then it turns out that he spoke. I understand the management too. As AZ we want to compete with some teams and Feyenoord is also in between. It is not possible that the trainer would go to a competitor. I support the management in this, but still find it a shame. “
Stengs refused to name the noisy run-up as the cause of the defeat against FC Groningen. “We were just not good. We were too sloppy, so was I. That is not allowed and is a shame. Pascal is a good successor. He knows us and is a calm man. He knows what we want and how we play as a team. “
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