Kees Smit made his first appearance for AZ since September on Thursday evening, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute during a 1-2 home defeat against Juventus in the Europa League. The midfielder entered the pitch for Valdemar Byskov, returning from a groin injury sustained while away with Jong Oranje. AZ-trainer Leeroy Echteld had included Kees Smit in the matchday selection for the Europa League duel with Juventus, which was played on Thursday at 21.00 hours in Alkmaar. The large talent of AZ had last been in action for the Alkmaarders on 20 September against Telstar.
The Cost of Playing Through Minor Complaints
Smit admitted to Ziggo Sport after the match that he traveled to international duty carrying light physical discomfort. “It might not have been smart to go to Jong Oranje,” Smit said regarding his absence over recent weeks. “I didn’t feel completely top-notch, but that is completely over now and I am fit again. I’m glad I can play football again.” Regarding going to Zeist with complaints, Smit stated: “I want to play as much as possible and that might not always be very good. That is a point for improvement for myself and I have learned from that again.”
Echteld was present in Doetinchem on October 6 when Smit failed the pre-match warming-up before Jong Oranje faced Bosnia and Herzegovina, missing six consecutive club matches thereafter. In that specific duel, his AZ teammate Ayoub Oufkir stood in the starting lineup. AZ missed his attacking punching power, particularly in major matches against Feyenoord, FC Twente, and Ajax where AZ failed to find the net. Echteld noted that they missed him, highlighting that Kees is a big player for them and important in the final phase where they create chances and score goals.
Difficulty of Returning Against Juventus
Returning during a European fixture against the Italian club proved demanding. “I had a hard time for a bit, but I thought it went quite well. I would have liked to have scored,” Smit told Ziggo Sport. AZ ultimately fell 1-2 in Alkmaar, though the midfielder expressed satisfaction with parts of the team’s performance while acknowledging that it took too long before the connection goal was scored, and that going 0-2 down against such a team means you do not simply turn it around.
Prior to his substitute appearance, trainer Echteld stated that while Smit was back in the matchday squad, he was not yet ready to start in the starting eleven. AZ had experienced a run in the competition where they had not won in four matches, gathering only one point against Feyenoord (2-0 loss), Cambuur (2-2), FC Twente (0-2 loss), and Ajax (1-0 loss). Echteld rejected talk of an autumn dip, stating those were matches on their own that sat close together, though it was not good enough at the moment. For AZ, the duel with Juventus was the fourth match in the Europa League, having previously lost 1-0 away at Sunderland, won 2-1 against Hapoel Be’er Sheeva, and won 0-4 away at Ararat-Armenia. With all the attention on the duel between brothers Teun and Peer Koopmeiners, twenty other players also stood at the kickoff at AZ-Juventus. Juventus represents a major opponent in name and fame, possibly the biggest to visit the Afas Stadion, and AZ has struggled against big opponents this season, witnessing defeats against Sunderland (1-0), Feyenoord (2-0), Ajax (1-0), and FC Twente (0-2), with the sole exception being the Johan Cruijff Schaal victory against PSV (0-4) where PSV played almost the entire match with ten men. Echteld noted that those matches sat close together and they ended up on the wrong side. He added that it is always a challenge to play so many matches with young boys, noting the advantage of having no injury wave and many players available, which also brings many changes compared to the fixed formation used in matches won at the beginning of the season. The Europa League involves 36 clubs, and after six matches, the position is sufficient to advance to the next round.
Frequently Asked Questions About the AZ Squad
Why did Kees Smit miss six matches for AZ?
Smit sustained a groin injury during the international break while with Jong Oranje, failing a pre-match warm-up in Doetinchem on October 6 before a fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What was the final score in the AZ versus Juventus match?
Juventus defeated AZ 1-2 at the Afas Stadion in Alkmaar during the fourth matchday of the Europa League.
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