Streppel wants Willem II players to show character: 'We need energy'

Streppel demands energy and responsibility from his Willem II players ahead of Saturday's trip to PSV, warning that repeated defeats have taken a toll on the squad.

Jurgen Streppel returns to Willem II's dugout on Saturday for a visit to PSV, taking over from John Stegeman who was sacked earlier this month following poor results. Adrie Koster, who managed the last two matches, steps back to his previous role.

Streppel acknowledged the psychological impact on his players. "The lads have taken a lot of blows," the 57-year-old said. "When you keep getting knocked down, it affects you. I found it very quiet." He emphasized the need to restore energy and communication within the squad: "People need to talk to each other, take action. That's what we need."

With limited preparation time before the PSV match, Streppel is demanding accountability from his players. "I ask my players for courage, responsibility and to show character," he said. "Then I can't shy away from a difficult match either. We need to stay close together—attacking and defending as one unit. If we play as spread out as we did against Cambuur, it becomes very difficult." The match kicks off at 18:45 on Saturday.