European Dream AZ ends…

Louis van Gaal tried to use his magic to trick Werder Bremen with a tactical find, but AZ couldn’t peak against one of Germany’s best teams. AZ lost in Bremen 4-1.

The problem for AZ was too big. Icelandic right-back Steinsson was suspended. Unjustly, as we all remember. He was yellow-carded for playing the ball with his head. But anyway, AZ’s protest to the UEFA didn’t result into anything, so Van Gaal had to replace the bold back. And that’s the problem. There is no one in the AZ selection to fill that position. Van Gaal tried Cziommer and Luirink in training-sessions but decided on a bold move. Gijs Luirink took De Zeeuw’s place in midfield and De Zeeuw – the allrounder – played right-back.

And that move did not pay off.

Werder took control of AZ’s midfield and controlled the match. Van Gaal had said before hand that AZ would have a chance, a good chance even, IF his team could peak. And they couldn’t. After 25 minutes, Van Gaal expressed his dissatisfaction by sending Stijn Schaars along the lines to warm up. It was clear that Luirink couldn’t do it. Schaars came on the pitch in the second half, but by then the damage was done.

Borowski had opened up the score, AZ shadowstriker Dembele had equialized but four minutes later Klose scored the 2-1. In that vital phase, AZ scored again. Or so it seemed. But according to the English ref the German goalie was fouled and he canceled the goal. Instead of 2-2 it would soon be 3-1 and that goal killed all AZ’s ambitions. The 4-1 was only relevant for the statistics.

Looking back after the game. Van Gaal was angry with the ref and thought the man in black had put too much of stamp on the game. On the other hand, he also had to admit that AZ simply was not good enough for Werder Bremen yesterday night.
“You need to be top to win an away game against Werder Bremen. We were not top tonight, so at the end of the day, they deserved to go through.”

Van Gaal will need all his skills to help his players digest this loss and move on to the next game. AZ is still active on two other fronts (Dutch championship and national cup). And reaching the quarter finals with a young team like AZ’s and with only a quarter of the budget Werder Bremen has is not shabby at all…