NOS Football•
It is of course an away game for NEC goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen tonight in the cup tournament, but he will be in very familiar territory. After all, it all started for him in his youth at De Treffers, the opponent in the catch-up game in the eighth finals.
“Yes, some balls had already been drawn during the draw and then they came out,” remembers the 36-year-old closing post, who is in his third period at NEC. “It’s very special for me to play in Groesbeek. No, it’s not what I hoped for. Because I immediately knew the danger that lies in this.”
After all, professionals mainly have something to lose against amateurs, NEC trainer Dick Schreuder also understands. “You know that it is the match of the year for them at the moment. I also think they are a very strong physical team. I have also worked in the second division, so I know what it is like to face such an opponent.”
Cillessen: ‘Special for me to play against De Treffers’
Cillessen can confirm that. “The village was quite turned upside down. There was some doubt whether the match could go ahead because of safety. Then of course we had the snow and frost, which caused a lot of problems. Now we are going to have a very nice evening tonight.”
Huge boost
The wintry weather was the reason why the cup match could not be played last week, while the NEC-FC Utrecht competition match on January 9 also had to be canceled. The surprisingly well-performing Nijmegen team therefore only took action for the first time this year last weekend.
The goal-rich visit to NAC was decided in the 94th minute by a goal from Kodai Sano in Nijmegen’s favor: 3-4. “That gives a huge boost. It is never easy to get out of the winter break. If you start like this, it is very good for morale.”
NEC’s performance in Breda was illustrative for Schreuder’s team, Cillessen believes. “Yes, when you see what kind of meters are made and that you can put so much energy into an attack in the 94th minute, even though it was not an easy match. We give full throttle until the last minute. That is a quality of this team.”
And typically the hand of the trainer. “Sure, eventually yes. We train hard and we all go all out. He is on top of it every day and so are we as a group. We want to get the most out of every day. And he is very clear in what he wants. There is a clear plan.”
Reserverol
Cillessen did not appear that often this season. He was the only one under the bar in last October’s cup match with Rijnburgse Boys. Partly due to injuries, but mainly because Schreuder preferred Gonzalo Crettaz.
The 65-time international, who also defended the goal for Ajax, Barcelona, Valencia and Las Palmas, has so far had to settle for the role of reserve. “Unfortunately, I have more experience with this than I had hoped for at the beginning of my career. It’s as simple as that. It’s difficult, but I knew what I was getting into when I signed here.”
Schreuder: ‘Not a nice opponent, the match of the year for them’
Tonight he will definitely get the chance to prove himself, although the question is whether he will get much to do against coach Theo Janssen’s team. “As I know Theo, he will not park the bus. Theo wants to make it a great football evening. I have also heard him say that they do not want to leave it like a tame lamb. It will be a bit of a derby atmosphere.”
