Ramiz Zerrouki says high expectations are putting pressure on FC Twente

FC Twente midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki says the club’s high expectations have made supporters quicker to express their disappointment when performances or results fall short.

The Algeria international believes the pressure has increased because the team itself helped create those expectations. The Enschede club has not always convinced this season, which has occasionally led to frustration among the crowd.

“We created these expectations ourselves. Everyone had an opinion about it, and that also had an effect on the supporters,” Zerrouki told Tubantia.

The 28-year-old says, however, that he has generally experienced strong backing from the club’s fans.

“In 90% of cases, we are still extremely well supported. In my view, people can boo after a bad match, but it is not constructive when it happens after only 15 minutes because the goalkeeper takes a little too long to clear the ball.”

Zerrouki also rejected the idea that the players viewed the situation as a crisis during a difficult period.

“We, the players, never heard the word ‘crisis’. I kept saying that all the criticism was slightly exaggerated. It was not good enough, certainly, but we were not fighting relegation either,” he said.

The midfielder believes FC Twente’s recent progress has justified some of the optimism around the team, while warning that their work is not finished.

“The results are good and our play is improving day by day. But not everything has been won in advance,” Zerrouki added.

He also urged the squad not to become distracted by its improved form.

“We will not allow success to go to our heads. We simply have to continue in the same way. Starting on Sunday, if we do not want to let the best team in the Netherlands leave with all three points…”

FC Twente host reigning champions PSV on Sunday.