Thursday’s UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final first leg represents something of a homecoming for AZ Alkmaar manager Pascal Jansen.
The 50-year-old Dutchman was born in London before moving to the Netherlands at a young age with his parents, Hans Jansen and Sue Chaloner, both musicians who formed the duo Spooky and Sue.
Pascal’s talents were focused on the football pitch, and became concentrated on coaching after he was forced to abandon his playing dreams due to a knee injury whilst he was a youth player.
Having coached in his homeland and the United Arab Emirates prior to landing his opportunity with the reins at Alkmaar, Jansen is thrilled to have the chance to lead his side into a European semi-final in the city of his birth.
“The atmosphere and hearing the people here makes me feel very much at home,” he said in his pre-match press conference at London Stadium.
“London is a beautiful city and I was here on Sunday to watch West Ham’s game against Manchester United.
“I’m happy I watched the Manchester United game because I saw them at their best, so I’ve got a good view of what they’re capable of.
“They are very capable, very powerful but I don’t think they can stay away from one-on-ones for 95 minutes and we won’t be scared to attack them.”
Jansen’s confidence in his side has been built by an outstanding campaign which has seen them cling to the coattails of the Eredivisie top three – Feyenoord, PSV and Ajax – as well as build a European campaign which has seen them win 13 of their 16 Europa Conference League ties to date.
With the ultimate prize of a trip to the final in Prague on the line, the AZ boss says his team will not leave anything out on the pitch.
“West Ham has physically very strong, very fast players,” he continued. “We tried to find their weaknesses and of course we will try to profit from that on Thursday.
“It would mean a lot to get to the final. It’s a massive game and really great to be here, in a European semi-final.
“We’re proud to be here, we know we’re up for a big fight playing against a big team and a big club but the approach will be no different to the previous game.”
The AZ boss also confirmed that he will be without Swedish forward Jesper Karlsson due to injury, while left-back Milos Kerkez is banned after collecting his third yellow card of the competition in the quarter-final win over RSC Anderlecht. However, striker Jens Odgaard will be available following a foot issue.
