N.E.C. Nijmegen has started preparing for the new season. The NEC selection stood on the training field for the first time today. Coach Dick Schreuder sees a totally different year ahead.

What are the expectations?

The Nijmegen players started their preparation early, as the first match in the Champions League qualifying round is scheduled for early August.

What does the preparation look like?

NEC has signed three new players in the past few days, two of whom were on the field during the first training session: striker Kaj Sierhuis and defender Tobias Storm.

What does the coach say?

I think it's going to be a totally different year, says coach Dick Schreuder. The attractive, attacking football and the qualification for the Champions League qualifying round caused surprised looks in the football world. Other clubs have also started their preparation, but here it's about all sorts of things that we as a club are not used to. That's a huge challenge for us as a coaching staff, Schreuder says. Perr Schuurs, the third reinforcement, was absent. The defender is recovering from a long-term injury. We know he won't be available for the time being. He's following a different trajectory. We'll see how it goes, says Schreuder.

What does the player say?

Sierhuis stood on the field with a big grin. The 28-year-old striker came over from Fortuna Sittard, where he had put himself in the spotlight for many other clubs last season. The fact that NEC qualified for the Champions League qualifying round played a role in his decision to stay in the Netherlands. Because the abroad was indeed tempting for the striker. We still had a dream of going abroad. We were absolutely open to it, but after weighing all the options, the conclusion was that this is the best step to take, Sierhuis explains on his first working day in Nijmegen. I'm happy to be here. It was a hectic period, I had a lot of options. There's a beautiful sporting challenge here, combined with European football. And the coach and club stand for super attacking football, says Sierhuis.