NEC coach Wilco van Schaik was not with his team for their Champions League qualifier against Bodø/Glimt on Thursday, according to De Gelderlander. Instead, he was out at sea and heard the Champions League anthem play from a distance, a moment he said required him to pause and take it in.
The match, played at NEC's home ground, ended in a 0-3 defeat, as reported by Dutch outlet NOS. The loss leaves NEC with a steep hill to climb in the second leg, with NU reporting the evening ended in disappointment for the club and its supporters.
Van Schaik's absence from the sideline was not detailed in the available reporting, but De Gelderlander's account makes clear he followed the occasion from a remote location. Hearing the anthem from the water, he admitted to feeling a swell of emotion, per the same report.
The result itself was shaped by Bodø/Glimt's efficiency in front of goal, with NOS noting the Norwegian side made the most of their chances. NEC, by contrast, struggled to convert their opportunities and now trail by three goals heading into the return fixture.
Off the pitch, the club faced a separate issue. AD.nl reported that tickets for the match had been listed on Marktplaats for hundreds of euros, prompting NEC to warn fans and invalidate the resold tickets.
Despite the heavy deficit, NEC forward Bryan Linssen is not ready to give up, telling De Telegraaf that a miracle would be needed but refusing to wave the white flag.
The second leg against Bodø/Glimt will determine whether NEC can overturn the 0-3 scoreline and keep their Champions League dream alive.
