UTRECHT – There must be more passion in FC Utrecht’s game and it must become less predictable. Interim trainer Rick Kruys, who succeeded René Hake who had been sent away last week, said this on Tuesday morning. After the training, he spoke extensively to the press for the first time.
Rick Kruys has been assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, Jean Paul de Jong, Dick Advocaat, John van den Brom and René Hake in recent years. Now he’s head coach, and that’s a big change. “The role as an assistant is different from the role as a head coach, I have noticed that in recent days. It is much busier.”
Lawyer as mentor
Kruys receives support from mentor Dick Advocaat on his first steps as head coach. During Tuesday training, the two talked extensively. “I want to know from Dick what he sees. He doesn’t tell me to do things differently. You do things your way, that’s what he gives me.”
Rick Kruys: ‘Lawyer does not tell me to do things differently’
The experienced Lawyer mainly provides advice and feed-back. “The trainer profession is an experience profession and he helps me with the bit of experience that I miss. Things happen while you are a trainer, which you have to pay attention to and respond to. He has already experienced that.”
More energy, fewer goals against
Under Kruys we will see a different FC Utrecht than under René Hake. “Because in the end the series of matches we played is not good enough. I will try to strengthen the defensive organization because I think we concede goals too easily.” The new trainer also wants more variation on the ball. “I hope we are a little less predictable than we have been in recent weeks.”
I lacked a certain energy. My job is to bring that energy back
In addition, there must be more passion. “Absolutely. There needs to be a lot more energy in the team. If you look at the past few weeks, they have definitely done their best, but I lacked a certain energy. My job is to bring that energy back.”
Father Gert important
Rick is a Kruys, and if he has anything from his father, it is entrusted to him. “We are people who can enthuse players, who can make players believe in things more.” Father Gert has also been very important in Rick’s development as a trainer. “I rolled into the coaching profession because he used to be a trainer of Holland, at AGOVV, at Cambuur, at De Graafschap. So in the end I always subconsciously learned that.”
Kruys senior played no role in the decision to become head coach of FC Utrecht. “I’m at an age now where I have to make my own decisions. When they asked me to do it, I didn’t discuss it with anyone. I said yes right away.”
That’s not a shame, that’s clear
The time Rick Kruys gets as head coach of FC Utrecht is limited: seven competition matches and (probably) the play-offs. “That’s not a shame, that’s clear. It means I can fully focus on the seven games and the play-offs. And it also means that I don’t have to answer questions every week whether I can stay or whether I can stay.” can’t stay.”
And it means that in the summer, when FC Utrecht is going to appoint a new head coach, he will have to take a step back. “I’m not thinking about that now. I’m focusing on the next matches.”