FC Twente secured their first victory against a traditional top-three club since October 29, 2023. This achievement allows manager John van den Brom to finally cross a persistent objective off his list. "When you hear you haven't beaten a top-three club in two years, it gives you plenty of energy to turn that around," he emphasized at the press conference.

'No less than the teams above us'

For Ramiz Zerrouki, the win felt extra special. The midfielder faced his former club, and it showed: a broad smile never left his face. "We completely dominated and are super satisfied." According to him, this is the moment for FC Twente to push on. "We are no less than the teams above us. PSV is by far the best team, but in terms of playing style, we are right below them, along with two other teams."

The key, according to the 27-year-old midfielder, lies in effectiveness. "That's improving steadily now. We still have everything to play for. We've made good progress, and it's up to us now to stay in the race for the top spots." Van den Brom agrees and cautiously dares to look upwards. "We've shown that we can aim higher. I have no idea where this will end…"

An extra exuberant Zerrouki

Zerrouki celebrated Twente's goals as if he had scored them himself. He admitted there were extra emotions. "Many people, leading up to this week, naturally talked a lot about how I would approach this match, but I approach it like any other. I want to be important and play well every week, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a little more special now."

While criticism was sometimes quite harsh in Rotterdam-South, Zerrouki is now flourishing. He is FC Twente's undisputed orchestrator. "The mental aspect is, of course, very important. The better you feel mentally, the better your performance on the field. For me, it was never about the pressure, but when I'm enjoying myself, you get to see the best version of Zerrouki," he said.

After this season, he is expected to return to Feyenoord, but in Enschede, they are very keen to keep him. "It's a huge compliment that many supporters want me to stay. Unfortunately, I don't have a crystal ball; I can't look into the future. It will become clear in the coming months," Zerrouki concluded.

  • 🚨 Latest news and notable stories from the Eredivisie.

  • ⚽ Fixtures, results, and standings in the Eredivisie.

  • 🎥 Sportnieuws.nl De Maaskantine, weekly show with Robert Maaskant.

  • 📱 Download our Sportnieuws.nl App and set your favorite club.

  • 🔔 Follow us via Google Discover, with your personal preferences delivered directly.