In the press center of the new AZ stadium, portraits of Ko Adrians are hung. He has not been training the team for two years now. But his work and especially one match under his leadership in Alkmaar will not be forgotten soon. The semifinal match of the UEFA Cup against Sporting in 2005 gained epic value for the Dutch, even despite the defeat. By the 120th minute of the hardest battle, AZ was a finalist, but the angular Portuguese crossed out all the dreams. Sporting reached the finals.
Alkmar brushed off a tear, sold the leaders, and took on the coaching position of the legendary Louis van Gal. In the stadium corridors of his photograph so far in a proud minority, but the mentor, picking up the vector of his predecessor, is on the right track. AZ broke into the showdown of the "Dutch troika" and continues to represent the country on the European front. This is a poster. Everyone sees her: the struggle for the titles, the new stadium. But what is the content? Why it happens?
Even in training, Van Gal does not part with his famous notebook. They say that the script for the upcoming game is painted in it almost by the minute. The coach is obliged to build the course of the match, to predict all the plot twists - this is the principle of van Gal. That home game with “Newcastle” is an almost per second adaptation of coaching notes. A good action movie with a mandatory happy ending. And when AZ matches turn into unpredictable thrillers (this happens often), Van Gal still pretends that it was intended.
The AZ game combines seemingly contradictory components: on the one hand, emancipation, on the other, absolute alphabet. Four defenders and one opornik form a defensive foundation. Next - five (!) Players of the attack group. Their positions on the field are very arbitrary, everyone can give a pass and go to the strike point. Arveladze shoots left at the mighty striker Kuvermansa. After half a minute, they change places and roles. There is also a mobile striker Dembele, a cunning martens handler. Predicting the maneuvers of this attacking five is possible only in one way - by looking into Van Gal's notebook.
AZ has unique statistics in the Dutch championship: the Van Gala club wins all victories with an advantage of two or more goals! In the only match, the advantage was minimal - visiting PSV. Before the arrival of AZ, the Eindhoven people had not known home defeats in the championship for more than a year. Today, only two points are left from the huge separation of PSV. Van Gal surprisingly managed, playing on several fronts and not having a long bench, to avoid recessions. By the way, more cool clubs cannot cope with this task.
Class is a word almost magical for AZ. A club from little Alkmaar, at the declaration level, announced that its goal is to become a large team. The queue for the stars of the club, please do not hold. No one is for sale. The Van Gaal contract has been extended until 2010.
The acquisition of the notorious gaming class is best followed by AZ games - an incredibly exciting sight. Still a small team, nevertheless climbs forward, trying to crush the opponent, as did the Vangalov “Barcelona”. AZ does not have enough strength and confidence, but now, stuffing bumps and bruises, he is trying to play like an adult.
Van Gala has always been considered an arrogant snob. It was difficult for him to work in Barça, and he failed miserably in the Dutch team. But, it seems, now the coach has found a team where his arrogance and snobbery benefit the cause. After home 0-0 with Werder Bremen, Van Gal discouraged reporters: “I am pleased with a goalless draw.” What the hell is written in his notebook ?!
Timur CRANES
PS do not miss! April 12, UEFA Cup quarter finals, second leg. "Bremen" - AZ "Alkmar". 22.45.