FC Emmen had to wait a long time for it, but that only made the first victory of the season more beautiful for trainer Dick Lukkien. “This gives a very good and satisfied feeling”, said Lukkien after the victory over PEC Zwolle (3-2). “Especially because we won a lot with our own way of playing football. Many had already written us off, but we have now risen with one. Were still alive.”
The last victory of Emmen was dated March 7 last year. This season the club from Drenthe was still at zero victories after 22 rounds. “We played a lot of matches in which the net was not right,” says Lukkien. “That we can play football, thats obvious. But somewhere we lost it. We touched the bottom, but now were back up. Now we have to come back.” With 9 points Emmen is at the bottom, but the difference with Willem II is reduced to 4 points.
Caner Cavlan, Emmens left-back, had shown his teammates a video of Robin van Persie earlier in the week. “It was about a conversation Van Persie had with his son,” said Cavlan at ESPN. “His son was disappointed after he sat a game on the bench, but Van Persie said to him: Do you want to be a loser or a winner? You should always look at yourself and not point at the trainer or at others. I gave it to the boys in the locker room. I dont know if thats what it is, but we have fought hard for this.”
Captain Michael de Leeuw sees perspective again for Emmen. “We still have a long way to go, but its wonderful to win again.”
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