Groningen maintain forward momentum

Reaping the benefits of sticking with one coach for six seasons, fourth-placed FC Groningen travel to Feyenoord, the side one place above them in the Eredivisie, with European ambitions burning brightly.

False start
Groningen started the Dutch season inauspiciously with two home reverses, but despite losing striker Luis Suárez to AFC Ajax, coach Ron Jans has taken them to within four points of top spot. They are unbeaten in nine home matches, including victories over leaders PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord.

Longest-serving coach
Jans, 49, is the longest-serving coach in the Eredivisie having been in charge at Groningen since October 2002, and this season he has added another two years to his contract. "Although it's my sixth season here, we are still in the process of developing the club," said Jans. "I want to see this work continue and I want to be part of it. We have the ambition to improve and we try to get better every day."

European return
After a 14-year absence, Jans led Groningen into European competition in 2006 and 2007, and despite losing in the UEFA Cup first round on both occasions, just to be back at that level provided huge satisfaction. "When we returned to Europe, we had a huge party, it really was something special," said the one-time striker who scored in Groningen's first European home tie – a famous 3-0 triumph against Club Atlético de Madrid in 1983. "It reminded me of the match I played against Atlético," he said.

Silva strike
Groningen had a recent wobble amid speculation over right-back Bruno Silva's future. He had been linked with a move to AFC Ajax and refused to play. For Jans, the media attention was misplaced. "I advised the board to sell him," the coach said. "All the talk was about Silva – I am sick and tired of it. We are fourth in the league and want to qualify for Europe again. That is what we should be talking about."

Restorative result
During the unrest, the team missed the chance to go second when they went down 3-1 at FC Twente last Sunday. Silva then secured his transfer to Ajax and Groningen returned to winning ways on Wednesday with a 5-1 victory over NEC Nijmegen, their biggest Eredivisie win of the campaign. With Feyenoord also having recovered from a weekend defeat to beat Twente in midweek, this top-of-the-table clash should show just how far Groningen have come.