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AZ victory in Europe: Coach explains consequences for two talents
AZ celebrate an important win in the Europa League against Fenerbahce and young Kees Smit scores. Coach Martens explains the decision for his bench placement and the possibility of later appearances.
AZ victory in Europe: Coach explains consequences for two talents
In an exciting Europa League game, AZ triumphed over Fenerbahce with an impressive 3-1 on Thursday evening. Particularly noteworthy was 18-year-old Kees Smit, who made a decisive contribution to the victory by scoring a goal. But as is sometimes the case in professional sports, good performance is not always enough to ensure team safety.
Coach Maarten Martens decided to put Smit and his colleague Jayden Addai on the bench for the following game. The reason? Both players had ignored the club's guidelines regarding arrival times, which, according to Martens, had clear consequences. "I'm really not difficult, but I have to make sure I have a message on my phone if there's a problem," Martens told ESPN. “The boys were surprised themselves, but the rules apply to everyone.”
The role of the young players in the team
Despite their game-time absence, both Smit and Addai are talented players with the potential to strengthen the team. Martens added that it was entirely possible that they would be thrown in during the game to bring some fresh air into the team. “As a joker, you can bring a special energy to the team,” remarked the coach, creating room for speculation about how the dynamics of the game could develop.
It remains to be seen whether the two young talents will quickly get their chance to reintegrate into the team and prove themselves. Such situations are not uncommon in professional sports and show how important discipline and team spirit are in football. The developments surrounding Smit and Addai could also have an impact on the rest of the season, especially if the team relies on consistent performance.
For more information on the latest developments in football and AZ, who have already put in an impressive performance against Fenerbahce, see the latest coverage on nos.nl.