NEC's miracle hopes crumble after Crettaz red card, as Nuytinck laments missing Champions League anthem before facing Bodø/Glimt in a Europa League night

One minute after goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz was sent off, NEC were forced to pray for a miracle against FK Bodø/Glimt, a situation described by captain Tjaronn Chery and veteran defender Bram Nuytinck, who also voiced disbelief at the Europa League anthem playing in place of the Champions League hymn.

The match turned on its head when Crettaz received the early red card, leaving NEC with ten men against a strong Bodø/Glimt side. Captain Tjaronn Chery admitted belief was thin, warning that a numerically superior opponent would be hard to break down. Both players relayed their thoughts to after the game.

Nuytinck on ten‑man challenge

Defender Bram Nuytinck entered the fray in the second half, acknowledging the difficulty of creating chances with a man down. He said the team hoped to score once, but doing so with ten men was already a tall order.

Nuytinck added that NEC had initially hoped for a miracle, even when the game was eleven‑against‑eleven. Once the red card came, the opposition’s organization intensified, making it nearly impossible for NEC to mount a counter despite their efforts.

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Before kickoff, the Europa League anthem was played instead of the expected Champions League hymn, a detail that caught Nuytinck off guard. He expressed confusion, noting that the mix‑up seemed unnecessary.

From the bench, Nuytinck recalled the team's reaction: “We thought, ‘you don’t mean that?’” He also mentioned that the club had already enjoyed the Champions League atmosphere at De Goffert, making the error puzzling.

Despite the setback, both Chery and Nuytinck stressed they would not blame anyone, including Crettaz, describing the incident as an unlucky moment that forced NEC to rely on hope rather than skill.