AZ urged to show more steel

Betis date
Unbeaten in 2006, AZ travel to Spain to take on Real Betis Balompié in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday night and although their last European defeat came in the first-round first leg against Russian opponents FC Krylya Sovetov Samara in September, Van Gaal is still calling for more consistency.

Encouraging signs
The former Netherlands, FC Barcelona and AFC Ajax boss knows what it takes to build a successful side and sees much to encourage him as he tries to inspire AZ to another great UEFA Cup adventure and bridge the gap between Alkmaar and the bigger names of Dutch football.

Mental toughness
Van Gaal, 54, said: "We often win matches more easily than PSV [Eindhoven] or Feyenoord, but we also lose matches in between, while PSV always win. That is what it is all about. PSV have more patience, are more adult and mentally stronger."

Great expectations
AZ, who last year reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals only to lose to Sporting Clube de Portugal in extra time, went second in the Eredivisie behind PSV last weekend with a 1-0 victory at Sparta Rotterdam, courtesy of a last-gasp Kenneth Perez goal. With Feyenoord being held to a draw by NAC Breda, AZ replaced the Rotterdam club as PSV's closest challengers, albeit five points short of the leaders.

Triple blow
Under Van Gaal, AZ have built well on the foundations laid by last season's coach Co Adriaanse, when they challenged for honours on three fronts only to drop away as the campaign neared its climax.

Hot shot Shota
AZ have won the Dutch title once in 1981, when they were also UEFA Cup finalists - beaten 5-4 on aggregate by Ipswich Town FC. This year they top at least one rankings' list, with striker Shota Arveladze scoring two recent hat-tricks to make him the Netherlands' leading scorer with 20 Eredivisie goals.

Betis beware
Dealing with Arveladze's considerable threat will be a priority for Betis coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer in Wednesday's home leg, as the Seville side seek to deny AZ an away goal while looking for openings for new attacking recruits Roberto and Diego Tardelli.