The new FCZ coach Bo Henriksen starts with a debacle

New coach, old worries: FC Zurich loses again in the Europa League against PSV Eindhoven. Already on Sunday, FCZ under the new coach Bo Henriksen will continue in the Super League against the leader YB.

Zurich’s players react to the 5-0 loss after the Europa League Group A soccer match between PSV and Zurich at Philips-Stadion in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on Thursday, October 13, 2022.

Peter Dejong/AP

FC Zurich’s rapid descent continues. In the first game under new coach Bo Henriksen, the Swiss champions lost 5-0 at PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday evening. After the fourth defeat in the fourth group game, FCZ theoretically still have the opportunity to reach third place and continue playing in the Conference League in 2023 – this prospect is not realistic.

It was a failed trip to Holland for FC Zurich in every respect. The approximately 2,000 supporters who traveled with them decided not to attend the meeting and stayed outside in front of the arena to protest against the actions of the police in Eindhoven. Before the game, there had been riots between the fan groups in the city center, with the police making arbitrary arrests and using excessive force, according to the FCZ supporters.

The Zurich fans missed another miserable performance by their team. After the defeat, Bo Henriksen tried to emphasize positive approaches: “I’m satisfied with the attitude of the players, but the opponent was clearly better. And you could feel that the team lacked trust and faith.”

Zurich's head coach Bo Henriksen of Denmark reacts to PSV's third goal during their soccer match in Eindhoven October 13.

Zurich’s head coach Bo Henriksen of Denmark reacts to PSV’s third goal during their soccer match in Eindhoven October 13.

Peter Dejong/AP

Gakpo and Simons: Two very high quality PSV players

At the beginning of the week, Bo Henriksen was introduced as the new FCZ coach. He presented himself cheerful, funny, quick-witted, the boulevard baptized him “good mood bear”. The 47-year-old emphasized several times that he had exceeded expectations as a coach at all stations, that he would convey positive energy as always, that FCZ would definitely be successful under him.

At Henriksen’s premiere, FCZ was far from it. In Eindhoven, the Zurich team lacked the class to even come close. It was even lucky for the guests that PSV lost a number of strong attacking players through injury – Eindhoven coach Ruud van Nistelrooy also substituted his two best players at the break when the score was 3-0.

Striker Cody Gakpo gave another testimony to his outstanding skills in the first half and the 23-year-old could soon join a top European club. Xavi Simons, on the other hand, born in 2003, was considered a future world star in his youth at FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. The Dutchman has been playing in his home country since this summer – and Simons has shown why he was once celebrated as a child prodigy.

Nobody currently expects FCZ to be able to stand up to PSV Eindhoven and top players like Gakpo or Simons. But it was frightening how clumsy the people of Zurich behaved, how easily they let themselves be duped, how little they resisted. After halfway decent starting minutes, FC Zurich fell apart at the first resistance. Goalkeeper Yanick Brecher was repeatedly let down by his hesitant teammates.

PSV Eindhoven's Cody Gakpo heads on goal.

PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo heads on goal.

Piroschka Van De Wouw / Reuters

And so the PSV players were allowed to combine to score their goals, just like in training. It was like the first leg a week earlier when FC Zurich lost 5-1 at home to the Dutch giants. Bo Henriksen should have realized on Thursday evening how difficult the task will be to get this unsettled team back on their feet.

The FCZ is facing a week with three difficult games

FC Zurich took a surprising amount of time to find a successor to Franco Foda, who was released on September 21. Perhaps it would have been more expedient to give the third coach this season, at least in the league, a somewhat more pleasant start.

For example with the home game last Sunday against newly promoted FC Winterthur (0:0). For Bo Henriksen, the Super League starts with three complicated matches within a week: on Sunday against the sovereign leader YB, next Thursday in Basel, three days later the derby against GC. The FCZ, who are still without a win after ten rounds, hardly have any time for training. That’s one of the reasons why Captain Yanick Brecher said after the 0: 5 in Eindhoven: “It will be a long, long way for us to get out of this low.”

This path leads FC Zurich over a “high mountain” – this is how Bo Henriksen described the situation after the heavy defeat in Holland. He will need a lot of energy to get this battered FCZ back on track.

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