Head coach Peter Bosz spoke after the defeat in Zwolle about the lesser phase his team is currently in. The coach noted that there are recurring issues. 'Things are going wrong that haven't gone wrong for a long time.'
We have heard the term "off-day" many times in recent weeks. Was it one tonight?
"It wasn't good enough. It is clear that we are in a down phase, you can conclude that by now. We will have to get out of that together as soon as possible. We also have another important game on Tuesday."
What's in it for him?
"Things are going wrong that haven't gone wrong for a long time. A number of things seem to be becoming structural. We fall behind early and then have to chase. Then we reach our best phase of the match and equalize. But then we miss a penalty kick. Then they score from a game-resolution, something that has happened to us more than once. I don't think a top club should depend on luck. Today we didn't force the victory ourselves."
You intervened with three substitutions and at one point were playing with three defenders. How do you look back on those substitutions?
"I didn't feel that if we continued the way we were playing, we were going to get many chances. That's why I took a defender off so Luuk and Pepi could play together in attack. That created a number of chances, but the ball didn't go in. That ball on the crossbar, the missed penalty; it's also a bit of the phase we're in."
Have we come to think it's normal? An average of 90 points per season?
"I said for a long time that it wasn't normal. The players knew that and I knew that. You all go through a phase like that sometimes, so then you start looking for causes. In the end, you have to come out of it together. We showed we can play good football and we have to get back to that."
Are you angry or disappointed?
"It doesn't always have to be about anger and disappointment. I want to analyze the game first and have to be there now to help my players. Every player wants to, but you have to be careful that at some point they don't dare anymore. Players are allowed to make mistakes from me, because they have to maintain confidence and it's up to me to help the boys do that. It may be a cliché, but you will have to work hard. With that hard work, the good football will come back."
Did you foresee such a down phase?
"I expected it earlier. It didn't happen for a long time. Every team has one of those phases where it doesn't run for a few games in a row and we haven't experienced that for a long time."