Overview
- De Treffers beat Heracles to advance in the KNVB Cup after Sebastiaan van Bakel scored the matchwinner and Heracles finished with ten men following a red card for Mario Borac.
- Janssen said he showed his squad Heracles' eight changes before kickoff to spark belief, telling players the visitors 'did not take us seriously' and urging them to prove otherwise.
- Heracles coach Vincent Heilmann defended his selection, saying he named experienced players such as Thomas Bruns, Mike te Wierik and Jeff Reine-Adélaïde and that those choices were good enough to win.
- Van Bakel and teammates praised Janssen's people management and the tight team spirit he has built, and players said that cohesion and fight were decisive alongside the red card incident.
- The result highlights the risk for higher-tier clubs that rotate heavily in cup ties and gives De Treffers a morale boost and a spotlight in the draw as they prepare for their next opponent.