That SC Heerenveen in the last 450 minutes hasn't scored any goal, has not agitated  Lasse Nilsson on the eve of the match against Osasuna. The defeat against Heracles is another story, but there is no time for negative thoughts. "We must forget about Heracles as soon as possible and focus on Osasuna. I have faith that we'll take a point at home.'
 

Lasse Nilsson against Vitoria Setubal. ,,We have to be sharp at the front, because we won't get many changes in the international football’’

 

Heerenveen scored for last time in the home match against NEC, in the meantime a month ago. Also thanks to a goal of Lasse Nilsson Heerenven won with 3-0 won from NEC. The scorings of the Frisian have suffered since then. In the last five duels they haven't scored one goal. The lack of goals is annoying, but no more than that, Lasse Nilsson put it into perspective. The Swede blames the disappointing performances of the last weeks to a combination of the lack of luck and being a bit out of shape. ,"We haven't been lucky, especially not in away games. Against Excelsior Petter was send off after ten minutes and we got two penalties against us. In Utrecht we lost in the last minute. Also by a penalty. If we had scored our penaltyl, we would have won."
 

Coach Gertjan Verbeek blamed his team for the lack of institution last Sunday after the lost game against Heracles Almelo. " We started too weak, we didn't show much fighting spirit" Nilsson agrees with his coach for a part. "Of course we have to face the mirror and look critical at ourselves, but  there is nobody who got on the field thinking 'we will make it  today' Absolutely not!"

But the defeat against Heracles worries Nilsson. "We are not allowed to lose against Heracles. We are not lucky, but we should play a bit smarter too. The second ball was always for Heracles, perhaps we have not been concentrated enough. We also know that Heracles must have it from the fight and probably we have showed to many of it. And at the front we should focus more and be more awake. Internationally you only have a few chances, so you must strike immediately ''

The defeat in Almelo is a setback, but Lasse Nilsson do not think that the bad performance has any influence on the match against Osasuna. "Of course it's better you set off to Spain with a good series in the back pocket, but European football is of another league. Everyone is sharp on  Thursday, I'm sure about that" Lasse Nilsson keeps track of Spanish football and has a reasonable picture of Osasuna. He values the Spanish, in spite of that the team doesn't do too well in the Primera Division "It is strong team with technical footballplayers. In Milosevic they have a physical  strong and clever striker. But I do have the faith that we will bring a point to Heerenveen."

The entourage in Pamplona will differ totally from the confrontation against Vitoria Setubal in Lisbon. In the stadium Alvalada only 3000 Portugeses were present. Ell Sadar, the stadium of Osasuna gives place to a twenty thousand fans. Thursday evening have been mainly sold off. The enthusiastic fans of Osasuna will give them a fiery evening.

Lasse Nilsson gets cold nor warm of it. "We are used to play for big audiences. Previous year in boekarest we have shown that we don't lose our heads. I'm not frightened for provocaties of the Spanish. Of course, they bleat for a card a big earlier and lay down a bit easier, but they are not mean. And if that is the case, then we should not let ourselves draw out and continue to  play our own game.' '


«Back