Peer Koopmeiners rues AZ mistakes after special Juventus meeting

Peer Koopmeiners admitted AZ were punished for avoidable mistakes against Juventus, even though the Dutch side showed they could compete for periods. The Europa League encounter also placed him in direct opposition to his older brother Teun, who opened the scoring for the Italian club.

Speaking to Ziggo Sport after the match, Peer acknowledged the quality of Teun’s finish but said his focus during the game remained firmly on trying to win. He told VI that the occasion had been special beforehand, yet the result left him unable to enjoy the family significance immediately.

The AZ midfielder felt Juventus held a physical advantage before half-time and displayed greater maturity across the contest. Although AZ recovered and produced a stronger second-half response, he believed that improvement came too late after two goals had been conceded too easily. “This is ultimately very painful,” he said, as quoted by VI.

Koopmeiners also accepted some responsibility for the move that led to Juventus making it 2-0 through Randal Kolo Muani. His pass put team-mate Mees de Wit under pressure before possession was lost, and he suggested the pair should perhaps have avoided trying to play their way out in that situation. While disappointed by the defeat, Peer said that with time he and Teun may look back proudly on an unusual evening shared with family and friends.