FC Twente defeated Feyenoord 2-0 on Sunday, marking a setback for the Rotterdam club’s pursuit of second place in the Eredivisie, and drawing sharp criticism from head coach Robin van Persie.
Van Persie expressed his disappointment with his team’s performance, particularly in the second half, stating, “We have rightly lost,” according to reporting from Twentefans.nl. He pinpointed a lack of composure in possession and a concerning pattern of conceding chances from opponent’s throw-ins as key factors in the defeat.
The coach highlighted a specific training focus that failed to translate to the pitch. “We knew beforehand that Twente would set up a block and quickly play the ball behind [our defense]. Then it’s in the net within two passes, and they did that about seven times from throw-ins. We trained for that, and the fact that it still happened is very frustrating,” Van Persie said. He emphasized the need for improved dueling and a more robust defensive response to set pieces.
Van Persie also noted a lack of sharpness and intensity from his players, stating that “dueling has to do with freshness and in that we were under par.” He added that the fundamental basis of any match, regardless of tactical plans, begins and ends with winning individual battles.
The defeat comes amid reports of internal friction within the Feyenoord squad, a situation Van Persie surprisingly welcomed. According to AD.nl, the coach stated he was “pleased” by the unrest, suggesting it indicated a level of engagement and passion within the team.
Feyenoord’s struggles were compounded by a missed opportunity to close the gap on their rivals in the league standings. Van Persie acknowledged the significance of the match, stating, “We could have taken a very nice step today and we failed to do so,” as reported by pzc.nl.
The match also saw concerns over injuries, with Resink sustaining an injury during the game, as noted by NOS. Feyenoord’s inability to capitalize on chances, including opportunities created by Moder and Hadj Moussa in the first half, further contributed to their defeat. Van Persie lamented the team’s lack of creativity and inability to pressure Twente effectively in the closing stages of the match.
