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Collins JohnFootball player |
Content:
- Collins John: NEC's Triumph over Spartak Moscow
- Elated Celebrations
- Historic Victory
- Spartak's Poor Atmosphere
- Dominating Display
- Spartak's Absence
- Personal Performance
- Adapting to Conditions
- Memorable Victory
- Europa League Prospects
- Future with Spartak Moscow
Collins John: NEC's Triumph over Spartak Moscow
Former Dutch international Collins John, currently playing for Dutch club NEC, has spoken in depth about his team's remarkable victory over Russian giants Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Europa League.
Elated Celebrations
"The celebrations in the dressing room were as if we had just won the Champions League," John told Sports.ru. "It's understandable because NEC is a small club, with no grand history or big sponsors. So to beat a great club like Spartak is a massive achievement."
Historic Victory
"Lorenzo Davids even called it a historic win," John continued. "We came from a small club, to play in a big city, in a huge stadium. I want to thank not only my teammates but our supporters as well - their support was phenomenal. They drowned out the Spartak fans."
Spartak's Poor Atmosphere
"I was surprised by how few Spartak fans there were," John admitted. "I thought 30,000 to 40,000 would come, but only 5,000 turned up. Maybe they have a difficult relationship with the fans at the moment."
Dominating Display
"NEC was clearly the better team," John asserted. "We didn't dominate the entire match, but in the second half we stepped up and Spartak looked ordinary."
Spartak's Absence
"We were surprised by Spartak's lineup," John revealed. "We expected to see different players, like the striker number 18 (Alexander Prudnikov) and the bald defender on the left (Alexis Rodriguez). Their absence weakened their team."
Personal Performance
"I was pleased with my performance," John said. "It was only my fourth game in a year, so I was exhausted at the end. But I managed to give an important assist, so I'm happy."
Adapting to Conditions
"I didn't have any problems with the artificial pitch," John stated. "It was hard at first, but I got used to it. And I actually prefer it to grass."
"As for the weather, it wasn't as bad as we expected," John added. "It's colder in Holland sometimes."
Memorable Victory
"This victory is not the most memorable of my career," John confessed. "I've had more impressive matches, like with the Netherlands youth team."
Europa League Prospects
"NEC has a good chance of advancing," John said. "But we can't relax. Udinese is a strong opponent, and we have to play our best to beat them."
Future with Spartak Moscow
"I wouldn't rule out playing for Spartak in the future," John admitted. "A footballer's life is unpredictable. Russia is not a bad place to play, and Spartak is a great club. If I received an offer, I would consider it seriously and possibly accept."
