FC Twente is navigating the logistical demands of its return to European football by coordinating with domestic rivals. As the club competes in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League, team management has reached out to Ajax and FC Utrecht to secure operational insights for away fixtures, as reported by Twente Insite.
Collaboration during European travel
After securing a 1-4 victory against Qarabag FK in late August, FC Twente relied on intelligence gathered from Ajax, who had previously traveled to Azerbaijan to face the same opponent. Team manager Bart Bruins noted that while the clubs remain competitive on the pitch, they share practical information behind the scenes.
“We have contact with colleagues,” Bruins said in the podcast Sinds 1965. “We didn’t really have the time to do a pre-inspection there, so we piggybacked on the experiences of Ajax.” This cooperation extended to using the same travel agents, identifying optimal training facilities, and receiving general advice on local conditions. Bruins emphasized the pragmatic nature of these exchanges, stating that while they are enemies on the field, they assist one another off the pitch.
Preparation for the SC Freiburg match
Looking ahead to the fixture against SC Freiburg on November 26, the club has continued its strategy of consulting with Dutch peers who have recent experience at the German venue. FC Utrecht visited Freiburg last season during their Europa League campaign, providing a reference point for the Twente security team.
“We have contact with clubs from the Netherlands,” said Thomas Lentelink, manager of safety at FC Twente. “We really try to take the best practices from there. The same applies to Freiburg, where Utrecht already played last season. We asked them: ‘What are the do’s and the don’ts?'”
This cross-club coordination serves as part of the broader preparation for Twente’s European campaign, which includes at least six matches in the Conference League. The team has already completed fixtures against FC Thun and Lincoln Red Imps, and these established lines of communication with other Eredivisie clubs remain a key component of their logistical planning for the remainder of the tournament.
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