Wotte’s that? Ex-utrecht coach says Celts will have no problems with spiritless Dutch side
Celtic have a great chance to secure the win needed for a Europa League play-off place, according to ex-utrecht coach Mark Wotte.
The former Scottish Football Association performance director fears his old club’s season is badly on the drift.
Utrecht have picked up a paltry one point from seven Europa League group games, scoring three goals and sitting 34th in the table.
They are in the bottom half of Eredivisie, in 10th, and Wotte rates them needy for “a new injection”.
The news at New Year that head coach Ron Jans, 67, will retire at the end of the season has done little to help.
“The spirit at Utrecht has disappeared a bit,” noted Wotte. “The coach just announced his retirement a few weeks ago.
“I thought he was enjoying himself. Now it seems he’s had enough and will probably become a technical director somewhere.
“They are very disappointed with the results in Europe.
“That’s one of the reasons, I think, he’s called it a day.
“Ron Jans is very well respected in the game in Holland.
“He’s had spells in charge of clubs – Groningen, Zwolle and Twente – for longer periods than is normal these days.
“He’s not the kind of guy who comes in to do the trick, then leaves. It’s about continuity with him. “He’s a good cook; he knows the ingredients to get everyone in the right place working as a team.
“He’s a lovely man with great social skills, very experienced.
“They have accepted his resignation. I think everybody thinks it’s OK.
“He’s been acting more like a manager; not so involved in the training sessions any more.
“This season is not as good as last season. The assistants are more in charge of the daily routine.
“Of course he’s responsible for the line-up, the tactics. “The problem he has now is he’s lost to Volendam, PSV, Twente and drawn against NAC Breda.
“He’s not picked up a lot of points lately and the owner is not satisfied with the results.
“They’ve lost ground on the challengers for Europe like AZ, Nijmegen, Groningen.
“Utrecht are very ambitious but it’s a bit grey now.
“They need a new injection, with a new manager.” Wotte was head coach of Utrecht between 1997 and 2000.
He paired future Rangers star Michael Mols in attack with ex-aberdeen forward Scott Booth during a successful spell.
Some stars of the current crop were omitted from the line-up as a weakened side lost 2-0 at home to Genk on
Thursday night. Wotte is sure none of them will be as keen to take a back seat with the appeal of playing at Parkhead looming, not least former Bhoys keeper Vasilios Barkas.
“I think it’s still a big match for them to go and play away to Celtic,” stressed Wotte, now sporting director at second-tier league leaders ADO Den Haag.
“I’m sure they will play an offensive game.
“I like Souffian El Kouarani, a very good left-footed Moroccan.
“He’s a threat on the left and Celtic should try to take care of him. “Everyone expected him to leave in August to go abroad or a lucrative venture to the Gulf.
“I thought it was a miracle that he stayed but the owner did not want him to go. “Danidewitisavery dynamic midfielder who can push the team forward. “But some things have not worked out. Sebastian Haller, the striker from Ivory Coast, has returned to the club but has been poor.
“Because of his first spell 10 years ago, the owner thought of bringing a ‘local hero’ back.
“However, he’s not scoring goals, he’s physically not 100%. He’s 31 and off track. “He might be a threat on a good day but he’s just not that prolific any more.
“I saw Celtic’s 3-1 win in Rotterdam under Martin O’neill. Feyenoord did not play with its best side, but Celtic did well.”