Peter Bosz will not call on Ismael Saibari against FC Volendam and he has left Niek Schiks alone for a while this week. The head coach told this during the press conference ahead of the meeting with FC Volendam. According to Bosz, it is crucial to start sharp at the Kras Stadion.
How do you view FC Volendam, do you watch out for their play?
"Definitely, we have previously lost points against Telstar and NAC who are in the same range as Volendam at the moment. So we definitely have to watch out and be sharp. You have to have respect for every opponent and the best way to show respect to the opponent is to take them seriously and prepare well for them. That's what we're definitely doing."
You lost points against NAC and Telstar. What happened in those matches and what do you want to prevent tomorrow?
"I don't think too much about those matches because I live in the present and look at who I have available and how we are playing at the moment. Telstar in particular, of course, was a very long time ago. We had a different way of playing and played with different players. We went to a very different system without strikers, and we've been working hard on that and trying to make that better and better."
What are the differences you apply each week per opponent?
"You have to be razor-sharp every match, because if you're down for a bit, everyone wants to win from you. That's how clubs approach those matches and that's why we have to start the match well. We do that fortunately, and that's the reason we have so many points and are so far up."
Did you sit down with Niek after his game in Groningen?
"Yes, but I also left him alone for a lot, because so much is already being said to him. My experience is that sometimes it is best to leave young guys alone for a while when they are just debuting."
Are you confident that Niek will reach his level for several games like last Sunday?
"He has to show that, but we certainly have confidence in that. He has kept many games in Jong, he has that experience. We see him every day at training with us, he does well there. We can play fine with him and he has proven that."
What do you think of Esmir Bajraktarević's development?
"We got him because he is a huge talent. He has to find his place in the team. Last year he had a lot of competition and this year he has to fight it out with Dennis Man. He has started to play more maturely. He makes actions when he can and plays ball possession when he has to. He stands better defensively and therefore gets into trouble less. He has made strides in that area."
Besides injuries, are any other players unavailable tomorrow?
"Ismael Saibari I have released for a few days, so he is not going to be there. Anass gets time off from me after the game, because he too just continued during the Africa Cup. So they haven't had a vacation. You notice that in the freshness. So they are not injured, they just need to switch off."