Tadic immediately important at NEC: 'I was frustrated by my injury'

Tadic returned from a groin injury in NEC's 3-1 win over Omonia Nicosia, providing an assist and criticising his team's first-half performance.

Dusan Tadic made his return from a groin injury as NEC defeated Omonia Nicosia in European competition. The 37-year-old Serbian forward had been sidelined since October after suffering the injury during a match against Levski Sofia, an incident he attributed to playing in unsuitable boots on a harder pitch.

Tadic was influential in the victory, with his shot leading to Clement Bischoff's goal and providing the assist for Bryan Linssen's third. However, he was critical of NEC's display, particularly their sluggish first-half performance. "We start regularly sloppy at matches and play with much more energy after the break," Tadic told VI. "We need to imprint in our heads that we must also win in the first half."

Manager Dick Schreuder made adjustments at half-time to sharpen the team's focus. Tadic acknowledged the coach's impact: "Dick is strong at half-time. He can wake the team up in the dressing room." NEC now face FC Utrecht on Sunday in the Eredivisie, where they have not won since late August.