"The intellectualisation
of football has
always foundered
on a simple problem-
-the players. Doing
all your most
rewarding thinking
with your feet seems
to dull the philo-
sophical impulse.
Unless, of course,
you are Dutch.
According to legend,
Europeans played
a moronic, muscular
version of the world's
game, until Holland
proclaimed its vision
of total football in the
1974 World Cup,
and enlightenment
dawned."

From:
Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football

Perez: "Twente top team, not a top club"

Thursday 26 February 2009

FC Twente have a top team, said playmaker Kenneth Perez, ahead of the second leg of the tie against Olympique Marseilles in the UEFA Cup.

But he refused to call Twente a top club.

"Historically the club can not be compared to Ajax and PSV. They'll have to achieve some more and that takes time. But apart from that they are nicely on schedule on their way up."

Against Marseilles FC Twente are defending a 1-0 lead which they took from the away game.

Perez has no fear at all that that will put any doubt in the players' minds.

"I know people say these things: should we defend or go forward? Let's not make a problem of it. I prefer to be 1-0 up rather than 1-0 down."

His coach Steve McClaren agreed.

"In Marseilles we have played very disciplined, mature and offensive. I have been around for a while but this was the best away game of any of my teams. In Enschede we should play the same way: aggressively, on the opponent's half."

FC Twente are still in Europe, they're second in the league and they have reached the quarterfinal of the Dutch Cup.

They will play four games in the next ten days, all four at home.

Marseilles, ADO, De Graafschap (Cup) and PSV.

Is that possible?

"I think it is," says McClaren.

"But I have not asked the players yet."

"Of course it is," says Perez.

"Against Marseilles no one will be tired, take it from me. And for the weeks after I do not think it will be a problem. Although sometimes a long trip or a match shortly after an international game came be tough at times."

McClaren: "Tiredness is mainly in the head. More games usually means less training. And I think every player prefers to play matches."

The last time Twente were in this position was in 1975.

They reached the fourth place (after PSV, Feyenoord, Ajax) in the league and reached two finals, which they both lost.

In the UEFA Cup against Borussia Mönchengladbach, and in the Dutch Cup against ADO Den Haag.

Today's achievements came less expected.

Perez: "But the season is still far from being a success. Our aim was to achieve European football again. But we have come this far in the UEFA Cup we would like top add a little to that. That's our challenge on Thursday."