Angry Dick Schreuder hits his own defender hard after Juventus blunder

Angry Dick Schreuder did not hold back after the painful 5‑0 defeat of NEC against Juventus in the Europa League. While the Italian giant overwhelmed the Nijmegen players in Turin, the coach directed his anger at individual mistakes, especially the performance of a young defender.

Schreuder was particularly critical of his squad and spared no individual players. He indicated that the collective effort was far below standard and that there were no more excuses. The coach emphasized that the team is still far from the desired level.

Kabar under fire

In particular Almugera Kabar, loaned from Borussia Dortmund, must pay the price with Schreuder. The defender caused a penalty in Turin with a too‑late tackle and visibly struggled. “Why do I keep selecting Kabar? Because I have no other option,” declared the relentless coach. “That boy is just new and he will have to play.”

Schreuder acknowledges that Kabar is currently struggling with the level required of him. He wanted to take Kabar off after about half an hour, but changed his mind after Clement Bischoff was dealing with an injury. The coach emphasized that the circumstances force NEC to let young talent play earlier.

Injuries limit options

Furthermore, Schreuder emphasized that Bram Nuytinck and Perr Schuurs are not yet fully available. “Bram Nuytinck and Perr Schuurs can only play twenty to twenty‑five minutes. I don’t even know if Perr can play on Sunday,” he said. The limited availability limits the coach’s options.

NEC already faced a deficit in Turin after nine minutes. A long ball was misjudged by the defence and goalkeeper Nikolas Polster, after which Nicolás González could score the opening goal. “With all due respect, but I would still head that ball away. I can see it coming,” Schreuder responded afterwards.

At halftime, NEC were already trailing three‑zero, after which Juventus struck twice more in the second half. “We were clearly not good enough. I did not expect that. I thought we were better,” said Schreuder. The match showed, according to the coach, that the squad still needs a lot of time.

The stark contrast between Schreuder’s relentless criticism and the actual shortcomings of his selection underscores an urgency for greater defensive stability. His message is clear: without more experience and time, NEC will continue to struggle in the Europa League.