Homepage Update: "We are aware of what it means"

Status
Not open for further replies.

GrandOldTeam

Moderator
Staff member
GrandOldTeam submitted a new blog post

"We are aware of what it means"
management-1024x410.jpg



Everton fitness coach Jan Kluitenberg reckons he has a good handle on what the Merseyside Derby means to fans.

Speaking to evertonfc.com, Kluitenberg said: “This derby is amazing. You can read a lot, you can watch it on television - but when you’re really involved in Everton, you know this is the most important game of the season. Of course, the coaching staff and I try to prepare the players for what is a big challenge. I know the players will do everything they possibly can to get a good result.

Kluitenberg worked with Ronald Koeman at Benfica during the 2005/06 season, with Benfica recording a double over arch-rivals Porto, including a first away win for more than 14 years.

"It’s intense. We experienced the Benfica-Porto derby twice, but I have to say this is more intense than we’ve had before.

"The Portuguese derby, we won two times in 14 years so that was a great result. Southern European people are excited about their derby but sometimes it looks like it’s more intense when you’re outside of the stadium, compared to when you’re inside it. Here it is on a higher level. There are two big teams on Merseyside and we are aware of what it means."
 
...I honestly think the talking doesn't matter. Jagielka has come out and said "let's win it for Seamus" etc but we've heard the likes before. We've heard how we'll do this and how we'll do that, we've heard the players and staff saying they know how important the game is.

Personally, I'd prefer to hear no such comments in the lead up. Keep quiet, do your talking on the pitch.
 

Benfica is in Lisbon so surely their big derby was vs Sporting, not Porto and would therefore ofcourse be nowhere near as 'intense' as 2 teams fighting for the same position in the league and located the length of a park away!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top