Although the Eredivisie has already started, Slot is carefully building on new Feyenoord

August is still long. Now that there is still plenty of action on the transfer market, it is not yet clear what the new Feyenoord will look like.

Little is left of the team that reached the final of the Conference League at the start of the Eredivisie season. But compared to a year ago, the Rotterdammers seem to be in a much better position from a sporting point of view. And they are also a lot more decisive financially.

The difference with Ajax and PSV has been almost unbridgeable for years. At the same time, Feyenoord often feels the hot breath of sub-top players such as AZ, FC Utrecht and Vitesse in the neck.

“It is certainly the case that we have a gap to close”, trainer Arne Slot looks ahead to the new season. “But we must not forget that the gap to the bottom was not large.”

Arne Slot during the press conference prior to the match against Vitesse:

But of course Slot himself would rather not look down.

And why should he, in a summer when all transfer records were broken? Due to the European success, Feyenoord was able to ask considerable sums for Tyrell Malacia (left for Manchester United) and Luis Sinisterra (Leeds United). And a record purchase followed with Quinten Timber (taken from FC Utrecht).

By selecting thoroughly, Feyenoord has capital on the field again. And there will probably be two more hits, because Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica) and Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) are being negotiated.

Due to the financial situation at Feyenoord, Slot cannot reinvest all of the incoming millions. Nevertheless, the budget was jacked up, from 65 to a sloppy 80 million euros.

The bar is being set higher and higher in South Rotterdam, Slot notices after his strong debut season as head coach of Feyenoord. “As a finalist of the Conference League you have a level of quality that you want to attract. And that is sometimes difficult.”

Because the desired reinforcements are trickling in slowly. As a result, for example, Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez has not yet got his paperwork in order and he is not yet eligible to play for the opening match against Vitesse. And a new left-back has not yet been signed at all.

“I also see and notice internally that we are working on a very good and careful process to try to attract the best possible player”, Slot does not want to make hasty decisions. “I’d rather have a player that we actually see a future in in the coming years.”

Feyenoord also purchases strategically, with a view to a possible resale. For example, a lot of players have already been brought in who could increase enormously in market value if they make a good turn at the World Cup at the end of this year.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh goes to Qatar with Iran. And with Jacob Rasmussen (Denmark), Sebastian Szymanski (Poland), Cole Bassett (United States) and Gimenez (Mexico), perhaps even more Feyenoord players that have been locked in during the world championship.

And of course, record purchase Timber gets the chance to put himself in the spotlight with Orange national coach Louis van Gaal, who also expressed his confidence in keeper Justin Bijlow.

The fact that Feyenoord starts the season with a narrow selection does not have to be a disaster. The fact that the club is allowed to enter the group stage of the Europa League already saves six midweek preliminary round matches compared to last season. And because of the World Cup, there is a long winter break for all non-internationals to recharge the battery and possibly replenish the team.

Slot has enough players for the time being and saw during the training sessions that a lot of progress is already being made. “Now we have to take that to the field.”

Because with four defeats in six practice matches, the preparation was anything but smooth, the trainer concluded. “When it comes to teamwork, I think there is still a lot of room for improvement. That is not yet at the level that you aim for as a team, especially not offensively.”

A year ago, Slot started his first official game with Leroy Fer as captain and occasional defender. Visiting FC Drita, a week and a half after Steven Berghuis was sold to Ajax for just over five million euros.

Although Feyenoord is now building a new team, the base is already so much stronger.