Both Teun Koopmeiners and Calvin Stengs believe AZ Alkmaar made the right choice to sack head coach Arne Slot.
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Slot was sacked by AZ Alkmaar on Saturday after rumours that he was in talks with Feyenoord to replace Dick Advocaat next summer appeared to be true.
Speaking after AZ’s 2-1 loss to Groningen on Sunday, Calvin Stengs told Fox Sports, “The night before you heard some rumours and then the next day the staff was called upstairs. Then you knew there was something and you also had the feeling that the rumours were true. At 11 am we were informed and the trainer had left. He had to leave the building immediately, I believe.”
Stengs thinks it is a shame, but backs the management for the sacking, “This trainer has given us a lot. I worked with him for four years and he brought how we play. It’s tricky and it’s tough, but it’s the way it is. I also understand the management if he has indeed spoken (with Feyenoord). As AZ we want to compete with some teams and that includes Feyenoord. If the trainer were to go to a competitor, then that is simply not possible. So I support the management in that.
“But. I still think it’s a shame. It will also come in a good week.”
AZ captain Teun Koopmeiners also reflected on the big news to Fox Sports, “It was a special day that you don’t experience much. You are also kind of taken aback, although we do support the decision. It’s just an extremely unfortunate ending. Arne was a fantastic trainer. In recent years as a head coach, but before that also as an assistant. On behalf of the team I would like to thank him very much and wish him good luck.”
On how the rest of the squad reacted, Koopmeiners added, “Everyone has their own opinion. Boys initially responded out of emotion.”
Koopmeiners also wants to get behind new head coach Pascal Jansen, “We have every confidence in Pascal and we would have liked to show that today. That did not work.”
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