Twente coach Steve McClaren believes playing regularly in Europe is crucial to the development of the Dutch club.
Twente have made a strong start to the Eredivisie campaign, winning all of their five matches to top the standings, and will look to carry their form into Thursday s Europa League opener against Hannover.
McClaren steered Twente to the club s first Eredivisie title in 2009/10 before enduring unsuccessful stints at Wolfsburg and Nottingham Forest.
While the returning Englishman has labelled the Eredivisie as the club s priority he is not undervaluing the importance of European competition.
The competition (Eredivisie) is the most important, but Europe is vital for this football club, McClaren said.
I think it s vital for the development of the team. It s never been a burden for us – in fact, it s been an asset to this football club since I ve been here. Now everybody knows FC Twente, because of Europe.
So it s important to us; it s vital to us. Never a burden. We want to be in Europe every year, and do as well as we possibly can, but also we know the competition is very important to get into Europe the next year.
Twente will host a Hannover side who have also started the season strongly and sit third in the Bundesliga standings after three matches.
While recognising the Germans as a threat McClaren is backing his side to step up to the occasion.
There will be pressure tomorrow, and I expect the players to handle that, McClaren said.
I expect us to perform and once again, to develop as a team. I think the key thing to grow is belief that we are a good team, belief that we can win big games. And tomorrow is a big game.
Hannover are very strong on transition and very strong on set-plays. So they re the two areas that we need to be very good at.
As I say, if we can play football and if we are a good team without the ball, we have a good chance of getting a result.
