Kees van Wonderen is in the eyes of SC Heerenveen supporters the scapegoat. The Frisians suffered their fourth consecutive loss on Saturday. Excelsior secured a comprehensive victory against the shockingly weak Heerenveen.
After a decent start with a disallowed goal by Simon Olsson, Heerenveen struggled to create much against Excelsior, which expertly countered its way to a 0-3 victory at the Abe Lenstra Stadion. In Heerenveen's home ground, there were several whistles from the crowd, and the passionate fans repeatedly chanted 'shame on you' and 'Keesie, get out.' Van Wonderen was the target of these expressions.
'Of course, it affects me,' said Van Wonderen after the match. 'This is also inherent to the profession we're in. It's just that I'm not used to it happening in this manner. It's the first time it's been directed at me personally. It's a common trend that you hear such things when things go badly, in all sorts of terms. Expecting more and better is legitimate, and I understand that. As long as people don't physically confront me, it's okay.'
After Saturday's match, it's difficult to find any positives for Heerenveen. Nevertheless, Van Wonderen maintains his confidence in his team. 'I see potential because those guys give their all every day. If I didn't see it anymore, I would have said so. I have faith, but I've said before that sometimes you need a wake-up call to make changes. Maybe others see it differently.'
'Of course, I also want the team's development to be faster,' the coach continued. 'I thought we had a higher level than what we've shown now. This is not what we want or expect, which makes it more painful. It's especially unfortunate for the people who work here and have a deep affection for the club. Meanwhile, I'll keep focusing on what I can influence.'
