Kees Smit admits he returned from injury too soon after AZ’s Juventus defeat
AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit has taken responsibility for his recent injury setbacks, admitting that his eagerness to return to football may have led him back onto the pitch before he was fully ready. The young playmaker made the admission after AZ’s 2-1 defeat to Juventus in the Europa League, a result that left the Dutch side disappointed but encouraged by their strong second-half response.
“I actually started playing again a little too soon,” Smit told Algemeen Dagblad. Reflecting on his recovery from a groin problem, he said the experience had taught him to be more honest with himself and with the club’s medical staff. His desire to play as often as possible, he acknowledged, can become a trap when his body needs more time to recover.
A demanding return from injury
Smit’s recent spell on the sidelines followed a busy period with the Netherlands Under-21 team. After recovering from his initial groin injury, he returned to international action and started in a goalless draw against Norway. He also featured against Slovenia, helping the Dutch side to a 4-2 victory with a goal and an assist.
However, another injury ruled him out of the Under-21s’ match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a fixture in which the team secured qualification for the European Championship. A further setback then kept the AZ midfielder out for around a month, disrupting his momentum just as he was beginning to find his rhythm again.
Smit believes he should have listened more closely to the warning signs. “If it doesn’t feel right, it’s better to miss one match, or two,” he said. At the time, though, he wanted to help the national team and continue building his form. The consequences were frustrating: he missed several important AZ fixtures, including matches against Feyenoord and Ajax.
“I’m really disappointed about that too,” Smit said, adding that he was still gutted to have missed those high-profile games. His comments offer a candid reminder of the difficult balance young players face between ambition and recovery. The urge to contribute can be powerful, but returning too quickly risks turning a short absence into a longer interruption.
Substitute appearance brings renewed energy
Against Juventus, AZ coach Leeroy Echteld brought Smit on in the 62nd minute. For the midfielder, the opportunity to play again was a welcome step after a month away from action. He said he had been looking forward to returning and that a European fixture against a major opponent brought an extra sense of excitement.
“I’m very happy to be playing again, and it has to stay that way,” Smit said. His priority now is not simply to get back into the starting line-up, but to remain fit enough to contribute consistently. That cautious approach may be especially important as AZ move into a demanding period of domestic and European football.
Smit was not the only substitute to make an impact. Fellow replacement Elijah Dijkstra also helped AZ apply pressure during the closing stages, as the home side looked for a way back into the contest. Their fresh legs added pace and energy, giving AZ more ways to challenge Juventus and making the final phase of the match increasingly open.
Echteld sees signs of progress in AZ’s second half
Despite the defeat, Echteld was encouraged by the way his side competed after the break. He praised Smit and Dijkstra for their contributions but stressed that AZ’s improvement was not solely the result of substitutions. In his view, the team had already begun to raise its level during the second half.
“I think we played well in the second half,” Echteld said. He acknowledged that introducing substitutes can change the rhythm of a match, particularly when fresh players bring additional energy and the game becomes more stretched. But he also pointed to a broader improvement in AZ’s performance as the players began to take more initiative.
The coach would have preferred greater maturity from his team in the first half. Against a side with Juventus’ experience, small lapses in composure can be costly, and AZ needed time to adjust to the demands of the contest. Yet Echteld felt his players eventually recognised that they had to increase their intensity and compete more assertively.
“At a certain point we’re able to do that, and then you see that we can compete with them,” he said. That assessment gives AZ something to build on, even as the result remains a setback. The challenge will be to bring the same urgency and confidence from the second half into the opening stages of future matches.
What the result means for AZ’s next challenge
For AZ, the Juventus match offered both a warning and a source of encouragement. The defeat underlined how important it is to start European games with focus and control, while the late pressure showed the team can trouble a high-level opponent when it plays with greater pace and conviction. Smit’s return also provides a welcome boost, provided he can stay healthy.
In the short term, the midfielder’s fitness will be closely watched as AZ prepare for their next Eredivisie fixture against Groningen on 8 November 2026. Managing his workload carefully could be just as important as finding him minutes on the pitch. A gradual return may help him avoid another setback and give the club a more reliable option in attack as the schedule gathers pace.
Any football prediction about AZ’s prospects should account for both sides of the Juventus performance: the team’s vulnerability when it lacks composure and its ability to raise its level when it plays with energy. Smit’s honesty adds another important factor. If he can learn from the injury experience, return steadily and maintain his fitness, he could become a key contributor in the weeks ahead. For now, his message is clear: the desire to play must be balanced with the patience to recover properly.
