De Zeeuw: "AZ have a better team
than Ajax"
Friday 09 January 2009
A disappointing 2007/08 season,
a terrible summer, no place in Oranje and a missed transfer;
AZ-midfielder Demy de Zeeuw didn 't feel very well for
months, but he fought back.
How does he feel about it?
How can you tell that you're
not feeling well?
'I am more introverted at such times. I do not really
show it, but it shows in my performances."
How come during the preseason
it didn't work out with both you and Stijn Schaars in
the central midfield?
'I wasn't feeling well and Stijn came back from
a serious injury. He was supposed to be the new leader
and the coach thought we would make a good couple in
midfield. By know he has been proven right, but at first
people put too much pressure on Stijn. Eventually he
started feeling better. Ever since David Mendes da Silva
plays on the right side of defense and the center back
plays in front of his defenders we have become more
important."
What was the turning point?
'Mid September I had to play with the second team away
to Groningen. That doesn't cheer you up, but it didn't
seem like a good idea to play without any motivation.
That evening I told myself I had to change things. And
that night I found back to that drive I had been looking
for in the months before. In the week ahead of the game
PSV Van Gaal said he could no longer leave me and Niklas
Moisander out of the team. Among the players there also
was the feeling that the team needed us. That was the
turn around."
Everything now seems to work
out for AZ.
"There's a lot of sides to the success of AZ. It's
incredible that the coach is still here. Niklas came
from the Jupiler League, but he had no trouble adapting
at all. Mounir El Hamdadoui scores goals and it's only
right he's put on a pedestal, but I also see the many
assists of Maarten Martens. We have a strong core that's
always there. Also when we don't play well we keep performing
our tasks."
The current series of 15 matches
unbeaten is impressive, as it seems almost impossible
to stay focussed for such a long time.
"One could write a good book about the last three
years. How everyone has been tested and shaped mentally.
It could be a source of inspiration for many. Now we
have found a steady balance. We can play badly, as we
did against Heracles, and still win 2-0."
Az prove that can also have
fun playing businesslike football.
"AZ have been compared to PSV a few times now,
but I think we play more attractive. Wesley Sneijder's
goal during Euro 2008 against Italy and the way it was
prepared by Giovanni van Bronckhorst is much like our
style. Some gets the ball and we break with four or
five players. We analyzed Ajax-FC Utrecht extensively.
Ajax dominated them but created very few chances. We
sat back a bit more and created our own space. The result
was six or seven good chances for us. I think we are
further tan Ajax. They are very dependent of Luis Suárez;
we have a better team."
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