SC Heerenveen head coach Robin Veldman has labelled AZ as a serious title contender in the Eredivisie. The coach made the statement ahead of the home match against the Alkmaar side. Heerenveen currently sits eleventh in the league with five points from four games and a goal difference of negative one.
Robin Veldman was clear in his analysis of the opponent. "Yes, if they keep doing what they are doing now, I certainly think AZ is a title candidate," said the Heerenveen boss. He pointed to AZ's impressive stats, having collected twelve points after four matchdays with thirteen goals scored and only three conceded. Veldman also praised the work of his counterpart and former Heerenveen player Leeroy Echteld. He complimented the football style, energy, and the integration of young players in Alkmaar.
The coach stressed that this respect does not mean fear for the Sunday afternoon clash. "We are not playing with the feeling of: oh dear, AZ is coming here, now we have to be careful." Veldman stated. Heerenveen lost its two previous league matches, increasing the urgency for a positive result.
The Heerenveen squad has some absences for the encounter. Defender Mees Hilgers was not yet ready for his debut. Marcus Linday and Mats Egbring are missing due to injuries. However, Marko Farji and Roberts Uldrikis were included in the matchday squad, offering new options for Veldman.
The club seeks recovery after a tricky start. With one win, two draws, and one loss, they are eight points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven. The defence needs to tighten up, as six goals have already been conceded. The full standings and individual stats provide a detailed view of the league position.
Heerenveen can draw on a positive memory from the previous meeting. Last season, AZ was defeated at home, when Maarten Martens was still the manager in Alkmaar. That victory can provide a psychological boost, even though the team under Echteld has clearly developed further.
The focus is now on creating a similar performance. Veldman's approach will be tailored to that, with the new faces in the squad potentially playing a role. The current squad information shows all available players.
After the match with AZ, Heerenveen faces another important fixture. On September 13th, Telstar is the opponent at the Abe Lenstra Stadion. Telstar currently sits fourteenth in the table, offering a chance to pick up points. That match is part of a run fans can follow via our fixtures page. Veldman's team must close the gap to the top in the coming weeks to achieve this season's objectives.
