In the previous matchday programme, we read a candid interview with left-back Lorenzo Burnet, who openly discussed the frustration of losing his starting spot and his determination to fight his way back into manager Erwin van de Looi‘s plans. Page 18 of the March 22 edition provides the ultimate proof that his hard work did not go unnoticed by the Euroborg faithful.
The “Essent Speler van het Jaar” section announces the SMS voting results from the previous home fixture against Feyenoord. Despite the match ending in a disappointing 0-2 defeat, the fans recognized Burnet’s relentless effort on the flank. He claimed the Man of the Match title with 24% of the vote, beating out goalkeeper Marco Bizot (19%) and veteran midfielder Nick van der Velden (13%).
The photo captures Burnet standing on the pitch with a young fan, holding his bouquet. Winning a fan vote after a 0-2 loss to a traditional top-three club is a rare feat. It speaks volumes about the specific qualities the northern crowd values. They saw a player who had been benched earlier in the season, who had to play out of position to help the team, and who was now giving absolutely everything against a superior opponent.
A Look into the Future
This Man of the Match award was a crucial confidence booster for Lorenzo Burnet. He fully cemented his place back in the starting eleven, proving that he possessed the mental resilience required to survive the ruthless internal competition of Eredivisie football. His ability to bounce back from adversity made him a trusted component of the defensive unit that would go on to win the KNVB Cup in 2015. Looking back at this 2014 programme, it captures the exact moment a young defender won back the hearts of the stadium.