Playing the same opponent twice in three days is a rare logistical quirk in modern football, but it requires a very specific managerial mindset. In his guest column for the KNVB Beker round of 16 clash on December 19, 2013, NEC Nijmegen manager Anton Janssen addresses this exact bizarre scenario ahead of his team’s double visit to the Euroborg.
“Tonight, trainer Anton Janssen and his NEC face FC Groningen in Euroborg for the first time. In just under three days, the league meeting between both clubs is on the agenda,” the editorial introduction notes. Janssen, who took over from the dismissed Alex Pastoor after four matches, admits his team is still in a “building phase.” However, he points out that their cup run had been a vital source of confidence amidst their Eredivisie relegation battle. He specifically references their earlier cup victories: “Against Harkemase Boys we played a fine match and won 8-0… In the following round against FC Eindhoven it was a bit more difficult, but we were happy with the victory.”
Janssen acknowledges the difficulty of the task, noting that winning an away cup tie in Groningen is notoriously tough. Yet, he views the cup match as a free hit—a chance to build momentum before the crucial league encounter on Sunday. “We are going to do everything we can to reach the quarter-finals of the KNVB Cup,” he promises, setting the stage for a tense, tactical chess match over 180 minutes.
A Look into the Future
The double-header produced one of the most bizarre emotional whiplashes of the season. Anton Janssen actually delivered on his promise in this cup tie: NEC Nijmegen pulled off a stunning 0-1 upset, eliminating FC Groningen from the KNVB Beker and advancing to the quarter-finals. Janssen got the exact morale boost he wrote about. However, the euphoria was incredibly short-lived. Just three days later, in the Eredivisie fixture on the exact same pitch, a furious Groningen side exacted brutal revenge, dismantling NEC 5-2. The cup victory proved to be a false dawn; NEC was ultimately relegated at the end of the season, proving that cup magic rarely translates to league survival.