Vitesse Arnhem’s quest for a European qualification spot came down to the last day in the Dutch Eredivisie, and an American defender had a say in the final result.
Matt Miazga scored his third goal of the season as Vitesse pegged Willem II back twice in a 2-2 draw at Willem II Stadion on Sunday. The 22-year-old headed in Alexander Buttner’s cross from a corner kick to level the score at 1-1 in the 63rd minute. It was Miazga’s first goal since Feb. 2nd.
'63 Doelpunt #Vitesse! Het is Miazga die Vitesse uit de hoekschop van Büttner langszij kopt:1-1 #wilvit
— Vitesse (@MijnVitesse) May 6, 2018
Ben Rienstra would put Willem back in front in the 70th minute before Tim Matavz helped Vitesse earn a share of the spoils.
Miazga made his 32nd league appearance of the season for Vitesse on Sunday, and now the side will face off with ADO Den Haag in a two legged playoff round.
If Vitesse are successful in that tie, they will face off against the winner of FC Utrecht/Heerenveen for a spot in the second qualifying round of next season’s Europa League.
Miazga’s loan from Chelsea to Vitesse ends on june 30. If Vitesse wins the playoffs and make Europe, Vitesse will be desperate to keep him as Qualifying games can start in July. This would hurt his chances at Chelsea as he would otherwise be training with the Chelsea fist teams and looking to make an impression and possible a roster spot. Miazga has a contract until ’20, so this year is crucial or him if he or Chelsea have designs on him staying
Because of the WC qualifying for the Europa League is about two weeks later, Vitesse would enter in the 2nd qualifying round which July 26 and August 2, Vitesse would have to extend the loan to say December you can’t just keep a player for another month. Miazga isn’t going to play at Chelsea, though that was really never their intention. I suppose there is a possibility that the new manager will like him but that’s maybe a 1% chance. He’ll likely be sold this Summer if he goes on loan to a bigger club that would a hint the Blues are still interested, but few Chelsea players that are loaned every come back.
The exception to the loan rule is Vitesse as the two owners of Chelsea and Vitesse are Russian oligarchs and friends. Abramovich always loans promising players to Vitesse, unless the Chelsea coaching staff want them first .
You are right though, as Vitesse has not (and probably won’t) announce Miazga’s return next year, so unless Chelsea announce a loan very soon, he will be back at the training grounds at Stamford Bridge this summer. Conte and Chelsea like many teams, usually at least want the coaching staff to run the rule over players returning from loan. The fact that Mizaga started over 30 games will not go unnoticed by Chelsea, but if he goes or stays is a mystery.