AZ Alkmaar manager Leeroy Echteld has spoken highly of the atmosphere generated by Sunderland supporters after his young side began their Europa League campaign with a narrow defeat at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland secured a memorable 1-0 victory on Wednesday evening, with Enzo Le Fée calmly converting from the penalty spot to settle a competitive European encounter. Although AZ returned to the Netherlands without anything to show for their efforts, their manager was particularly impressed by the surroundings in which the match was played.
Echteld was full of praise for the Sunderland faithful, highlighting the noise and energy produced inside the Stadium of Light throughout the 90 minutes.
For the visiting manager, the occasion provided his young players with an important taste of what European football can be like when facing a passionate home crowd.
He described the experience of playing in front of Sunderland’s supporters as a positive one, pointing out how consistently the fans attempted to lift their team and influence the contest.
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🚨😱 “HE WAS EXCEPTIONAL!” — AZ ALKMAAR BOSS CAN’T HIDE HIS ADMIRATION AS SUNDERLAND STAR EARNS SPECIAL PRAISE AFTER EUROPEAN CLASH! 🔥
By
Alious
September 18, 2026
AZ Alkmaar manager Leeroy Echteld has spoken highly of the atmosphere generated by Sunderland supporters after his young side began their Europa League campaign with a narrow defeat at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland secured a memorable 1-0 victory on Wednesday evening, with Enzo Le Fée calmly converting from the penalty spot to settle a competitive European encounter. Although AZ returned to the Netherlands without anything to show for their efforts, their manager was particularly impressed by the surroundings in which the match was played.
Echteld was full of praise for the Sunderland faithful, highlighting the noise and energy produced inside the Stadium of Light throughout the 90 minutes.
For the visiting manager, the occasion provided his young players with an important taste of what European football can be like when facing a passionate home crowd.
He described the experience of playing in front of Sunderland’s supporters as a positive one, pointing out how consistently the fans attempted to lift their team and influence the contest.
🔥 “THEY HELP THE TEAM”
Echteld acknowledged that the Sunderland supporters remained heavily involved from beginning to end, creating an environment that his young squad could learn from.
Rather than being overwhelmed by the occasion, AZ managed to remain competitive against a Sunderland side containing players with considerably more experience.
That was one of the aspects of the performance that pleased the AZ boss most.
His team showed enough composure to create opportunities and compete for long periods, particularly after the interval. However, their inability to turn those chances into goals ultimately proved costly.
AZ BOSS BELIEVES PENALTY CHANGED EVERYTHING
From AZ’s perspective, the penalty was the decisive moment.
Echteld believes the match could have developed very differently had Sunderland not been awarded the spot-kick that Le Fée subsequently converted.
The Dutch side felt they had created enough openings to leave England with something to show for their performance, and their manager admitted that the lack of finishing was one of the biggest sources of disappointment.
In his view, AZ needed to find the net at least once based on the opportunities they created.
That frustration was amplified by the fact that the visitors grew into the contest as the game progressed and looked increasingly dangerous during the second half.
SUNDERLAND STAR MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
For Sunderland, however, the decisive contribution came from Le Fée.
The midfielder kept his composure from the penalty spot and delivered the moment that gave Régis Le Bris’ side the perfect beginning to their European campaign.
While AZ had their chances, Sunderland ultimately managed to produce the one moment that mattered most.
The result means the Black Cats can celebrate a memorable European night, while their supporters received another reminder of the impact their backing can have on the team.
🏟️ STADIUM OF LIGHT GETS OPPOSITION PRAISE
Echteld’s comments are particularly significant because they came from the manager of the team on the receiving end of the atmosphere.
He recognised the intensity created by the Sunderland faithful and believes the experience will benefit his youthful AZ squad going forward.
Despite the disappointment of defeat, the Dutch manager took pride in seeing his players stand up to the challenge and compete against a more experienced Sunderland team in an intimidating environment.
AZ may have left the Stadium of Light empty-handed, but their manager believes the performance demonstrated that his young players are capable of competing at this level.
For Sunderland, meanwhile, the night delivered exactly what supporters had hoped for — a
