Echteld sees AZ's naïvety punished by Juventus: 'You can't hold the line like that'

AZ manager Echteld felt his side played well against Juventus but were punished for naïve defending in the first half, with a strong second-half performance ultimately yielding no points.

AZ manager Leeroy Echteld reflected on his team's performance in their match against Juventus, acknowledging both positives and costly mistakes. The Alkmaar side struggled defensively in the opening period, conceding twice through what Echteld described as naïve play and poor positioning on their own half. "When you step in too quickly and hold the line on your own half, teams like this punish you hard," he said. "That's the lesson we need to learn."

Despite the first-half difficulties, AZ improved significantly after the break and came close to getting back into the contest. Echteld praised the impact of substitutes Elijah Dijkstra, Ro-Zangelo Daal, and Kees Smit, who created chances and linked up well. A goal was correctly ruled out for offside. "On the basis of the second half, we probably deserved a draw," Echteld reflected. "Juventus has a good, mature squad, and when you're not rewarded, it's very frustrating."

The manager highlighted the team's improving trajectory throughout the season, noting their growing energy and quality of play. "We're hungry for more goals, which would allow us to win matches," he concluded.