‘Respect for what he does’

NOS Football•yesterday, 3:36 PM

Twente wants to bring the ‘same intensity’ against Fenerbahçe as at Old Trafford

FC Twente is not without a chance. Coach Joseph Oosting has this conviction in the run-up to the Europa League meeting tomorrow at 9 p.m. with coach José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe.

The Tukkers also met the Turkish top club more than a year ago, in a diptych in the qualification for the Conference League. Twente lost twice and was eliminated before the tournament had even started.

“I think we are further along than last year,” says Oosting, immediately adding that the opponent has probably also improved. “It is not without reason that we met last year in the Conference League and now in the Europa League.”

Twente midfielder Youri Regeer, who received a red card against the Turks last year, is also full of confidence. He thinks his team could have come closer to a good result last year. “We didn’t do too badly until the red card.”

Regeer was sent off the field before half time in the away match. It was then 1-1. In the second half, Twente was blown away and the Tukkers returned home with a 5-1 defeat. The return in Enschede, 0-1, was therefore virtually a formality.

The confidence that Twente built up at Old Trafford, where Manchester United was held to a 1-1 draw in the previous round, and the improving results in the Premier League in recent weeks mean that Oosting is looking forward to the first European match in front of his own audience.

“In our own stadium we have a chance against any opponent. I enjoyed the atmosphere in Manchester. I felt a nice connection with the audience. Last Sunday that was less, but we were also less good then.”

Besides the fact that both teams have progressed, there is another big change. The Special Onecoach José Mourinho, settled in Istanbul. Twente coach Oosting has no awe, but respect for the Portuguese. “I think it’s nice. He is really one with his boys and his team and he plays the way he thinks is good for the team.”

And the fact that Mourinho often does not opt ​​for attacking football does not bother Oosting. “Of course, attractive football is more beautiful. But I respect what he does and I can learn something from all types of football.”

While Oosting admires Mourinho, Regeer especially enjoys playing against all the big names at the Turkish top club. Bee Torch Dusan Tadic, Youssef En Nesyri, Sebastian Szymanski and Edin Dzeko are under contract. “Playing against big names is always nice. But they’re people too, right? Not robots.”