In preparation for the Conference League final against AS Roma, Feyenoord went on a short internship to Portugal last week. “We needed that, because we no longer had a competition. In Portugal we could focus together and get used to the heat, because it will also be warm in Albania,” said Cyriel Dessers.
How is the feeling in the group? “There is a healthy tension, you have felt that since the match against Marseille. That is also due to the media, the supporters, the stage. They are building towards the final, but I also like that.”
The final will be played in Tirana, where there is room for barely 20,000 spectators. “That’s a bit of a shame,” says Dessers. “It is a beautiful stadium, but a bit too small for two big clubs such as Feyenoord and AS Roma.”
“Now, those are just peripheral conditions. We are not working very hard on that. I also want to win that final in front of 20,000 spectators, that does not change with more people in the stadium.”
Dessers expects that Feyenoord will also remain true to its philosophy against AS Roma. “We’ve been playing like this for almost 50 games now. That’s our quality, we don’t have to do crazy things now. We do have to watch out for Roma and Jose Mourinho’s clumsiness.”
“It would be very painful to miss that trophy now. I will do everything I can to be in Tirana with the cup in my hands. You may only experience such a final once. We are going to enjoy it. I feel like flaming.”
Roma-Feyenoord is Cyriel Dessers’ last appointment of the season, after the final the attacker must decide where his future lies. The Nigerian Belgian is still owned by RC Genk, Feyenoord has a purchase option of 4 million euros.
“I don’t know yet where I will start preparations next month. It will be exciting weeks,” says Dessers. “I am very happy at Feyenoord. If I can play here for another 10 years, that would be wonderful. Staying in Rotterdam is certainly an option.”
“On the other hand, I am now 27, maybe this is also the time for me to take the step abroad. Okay, the Netherlands is also abroad, but I’ve been here for 5 years and they speak the same language here. this is not like abroad. Well, such a foreign club must also come then.”
Feyenoord supporter Jan Boskamp thinks 4 million is a bargain for Dessers. “That’s quite funny, because in the beginning he was quite critical of me. I was able to turn that around,” Dessers smiles. “It’s up to the clubs to discuss that. A return to Genk? Never say never. I still have a contract there.”
