Kökcü shows who is the leader at Feyenoord | Football

Not his game but the fact that he let the striker Santiago Gimenez, who had just arrived from Mexico, get away with the ball at the penalty spot in Italy caused some doubts about his role as captain of Feyenoord. Leadership was called for on the field, but the Turkish international didn’t want to derail things right there in Rome on a night that was already not going great for Feyenoord. And certainly not with a foreigner who came in at the very last moment and also didn’t seem to get half of all the discussed matters.

Kökcü thought it wise to be the wisest that evening and knew that Gimenez would be put on his number in the dressing room afterwards. That has happened and the Mexican will not dare to flout the agreements again. Apart from the fact that according to trainer Arne Slot, the hyper-ambitious Gimenez had never seen the list of penalty takers in the dressing room.

Photo on social media

The photo of Kökcü and Gimenez together, which was quickly shared via social media and on which they were put back as friends, was of course for the stage. The hierarchy in a Feyenoord dressing room is determined by the trust that other players have in their captain and not by a photo. And that confidence is in the midfielder, who also very consciously got the band around his arm.

Kökcü is the man who has had the biggest influence on Feyenoord’s game in the beautiful European season that is just behind us. In addition, the coach finds it important to have a player from the club wear the band. The Rotterdam Legion apparently also agrees, because after his goal, Kökcü was passionately sung to and he also sought out the most fanatical supporters. For the trade he hit twice with his fist through the air and with that, in addition to the joy, his feeling about the past few days was also released.

Oussama Idrissi tries to shake off Shurandy Sambo.

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The best proof that matters have been resolved came fifteen minutes before the end, when Gimenez, who came in after an hour, completed a fine action by the debuting Brazilian Paixao with a real striker action (3-0) and Kökcü passionately congratulated the Mexican on his goal. .

Many changes

Earlier in the match, Javairo Dilrosun had already taken the 2-0. The latter was in a new position, namely at ten. That had everything to do with a number of shifts (no Szymanski, no Walemark, but a starting left back Lopez) that Slot had to do after the physically tough evening against Lazio.

On the side of Sparta, they were not sure what to do with this Feyenoord team. There was really no preparation for so many substitutions and so many unknown players. Maurice Steijn’s team, who had an ex-Feyenoord player in their ranks with Jonathan de Guzman, was mainly searching in the first half. De Guzman was unable to make the difference against his old club after his long ramble through Europe and was substituted after an hour.

Only in the second act did the Castle Club see a chance to organize themselves and hand out some teasing punches. Tobias Lauritsen had a great opportunity early in the second half, but shot over.

The visitors’ faith to make the most of it quickly vanished when Gimenez came forward and Brazilian Paixao was posted on the left wing with a rocket motor. The Mexican was quickly launched and signed for the 3-0.

Sturm Graz wins too

Sturm Graz has won a small victory in the Austrian football league. Feyenoord’s upcoming opponent in the Europa League won 2-0 at SK Austria Klagenfurt thanks to goals from substitute Ivan Ljubic and 19-year-old Dutchman Emanuel Emegha (ex-Sparta).

Feyenoord will receive Sturm Graz, which is now third in Austria, in Rotterdam on Thursday. The team of trainer Slot wants to take revenge for the defeat in the opening round against Lazio (4-2). Sturm Graz started the Europa League with a win over FC Midtjylland: 1-0.