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Verbeek: "Only logical that the fans
are not coming"
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Thursday 18 September 2008
Feyenoord coach Gertjan Verbeek
understands why tonight's first UEFA Cup match will
only attract some 15,000 to 20,000 fans.
According to the coach his team
will first have to perform better before more fans will
come to the stadium.
"It's a petty that the second
ring of the stadium will stay closed, because we need
the support of our fans with this. We shall have to
convince the fans. So far we haven't been able to do
that," says Verbeek, who thinks his team will have
to play to their own strengths tonight.
Verbeek is impressed with Kalmar
FF though: "In the Eredivisie this would be a top-5
side. They are physically strong with an average height
of 1m87 which makes them strong at set pieces."
Verbeek: "They play very offensive
and don't give away much. Their position play is good
and to Swedish standards they score a lot. They aren't
top of the table for nothing. They have already played
20 games in their domestic league, so there's a lot
of cohesion in the team. That's not something you can
say about us."
The former Heerenveen coach isn't
sure what tactics the Swedes will use tonight.
"Not a clue, but it doesn't
matter. It's all about what we will do. We must try
and get a good starting position for the second leg.
It's important we create a margin."
Tonight will be the first time
Verbeek will have to drop certain players, as many injured
have recovered.
"Yeah, I have more options
now. That is something new. Before I was always the
one being disappointed. But I have brought shoulders
that the players can come and cry on."
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