The unrest around Feyenoord continues to increase. Did Robin van Persie ignore advice from his medical staff? There is now a response from the selection, from Luciano Valente.
‘Van Persie ignored advice from medical staff at Feyenoord’
The puppets are dancing a lot at Feyenoord just before the Rotterdam derby against Sparta. There is unrest around De Kuip, especially because of trainer Robin van Persie. The ex-footballer already made a name for himself at SC Heerenveen with a strange goalkeeper change, but he antagonized people in South Rotterdam last weekend.
‘It remains special that he is a trainer’
In the meantime, criticism of Van Persie was already gaining momentum. Former footballer Danny Koevermans, among others, spoke out about it ESPN. “Isn’t it still special that he is Feyenoord’s trainer? There are amateur trainers who have to attend the course for years and train in the highest division year in, year out. They never get a chance.”
“I wish him the best, but we have seen this more often in the past. Some trainers are appointed purely because of the number of international matches they have played. Van Persie is still spared by former players, by analysts and journalists. John Heitinga was also only appointed based on his past as a player, but was completely dismissed after four games,” said Koevermans.
What does Luciano Valente say?
In The Telegraph you can read an interview with Luciano Valente. The summer purchase, who came over from FC Groningen, grew into the star player in South Rotterdam and a crowd favorite in De Kuip in just a few months. What does he think of everything going on at his new club?
“In the long run we had a small group for many matches,” said the midfielder. “That is no excuse, but it makes a difference when the group of fit players is larger. Then the trainer can also rotate. We are a team and you have to do it for each other to continue sometimes, but that made it difficult.”
Criticism of Van Persie and the medical staff? Not from Valente. “I made a big switch. From barely playing ninety-minute matches at Groningen to playing twice a week here at Feyenoord. That is a nice development. The physical guidance here is actually very good. They helped me take those steps.”
So no unrest among the Feyenoord selection, but a clear goal. “We have to get second place anyway. Crazy things happened last year, but we have to be realistic: the gap with PSV is enormous. Let’s secure second place. Then we will look further.”
