Leukien is working on his plan: “Feyenoord leaves some space sometimes”

Courage and quality, according to Groningen coach Dick Lukken, are two aspects that his players must have to provide Feyenoord with a match in the KNVB Toto Cup semi-final on Thursday evening. “If you only stand in your half, you will be overcome.” Lukken also sees a weakness among Rotterdam residents. “Their adventurous way of playing creates space. With so many midfielders high up the pitch, they sometimes want to leave some space. I think that's a great position, but we have to take advantage of it,” Lukin said during the press conference.

Cup fever

The disappointment last Friday, as FC Groningen were unable to overcome Helmond Sport, quickly turned into cup fever after the weekend. “You can tell from everything that it is a special competition. We are looking forward to it and are ready for it. After the bad match on Friday, you feel a great desire to play the semi-finals.”

“Some people in Groningen also have the cup final experience, so you feel the cup fever from all sides which is nice. It's nice to feel the healthy tension in the competition,” says Lokken.

Opponents

“A club like Groningen doesn't often reach the final, so we want to give maximum performance and reach the final.” Lukkien even spoke to coaches who recently met Feyenoord in the competition. For example, he was in contact with Almere City coach Alex Pastore. “I spoke to him the day before yesterday and I was curious about his plan. We also watched Feyenoord’s matches against Go Ahead Eagles and RKC Waalwijk. Those teams were close to the result.”

semi final

Lukin, who will only miss young players Wouter Prince and Tika de Jong on Thursday, knows his team must look different. “If we handle the game well and have a bit of luck, it can be a game for a long time. We will try to play our own game. Sometimes we are played backwards, but you have to dare to play football. I can only enjoy it if it is “It will remain competitive.”

“We want to get the most out of it.”

FC Groningen are often the favorites in KKD, but not on Thursday in De Kuip. “It can lead to more relaxation, but you also want to make the most of it. “The goal is to reach the final, and we will do everything for that,” says Lukin. He likes the Rotterdam team’s style of the game. “Feyenoord have an idea,” he added. Great for how to play football and will look for a quick goal. We have to be realistic and know that they have a good team. “We will have to face Feyenoord on a very bad day.”

Lukkien, who still has to get one night's sleep over his lineup, still has several young players at FC Groningen. Therefore some experienced add-ons are requested. “Leandro (Bacuna, ed.) has a leadership role this week, and that's good from that boy. But Marco Renti, Marvin Persman and the goalkeeper (Hede Gorgos, ed.) have to take the lead as well,” Lukien concludes.

The Feyenoord – FC Groningen semi-final can be watched live on ESPN 1 on Thursday from 8pm.