Van Persie Commends Team’s Efforts Following Feyenoord’s Exit

Feyenoord’s manager, Robin van Persie, has praised his players following Tuesday’s Champions League clash in Milan.

Despite a 2-1 defeat to Inter, Feyenoord’s European journey came to a close. After facing a tough 2-0 loss on home soil last week, the Rotterdam team fought hard, as highlighted by Van Persie.

“My boys gave it their all and kept pushing, but Inter are an exceptionally strong team,” Van Persie remarked to Dutch television after the match. “They displayed tremendous determination.”

Feyenoord found themselves behind early when Marcus Thuram manoeuvred past a couple of defenders and struck a powerful shot that beat Timon Wellenreuther just eight minutes into the game. Van Persie acknowledged that conceding so quickly dealt a blow to his team’s chances: “That was unfortunate.”

The Rotterdam side equalised just before half-time when Jakub Moder was fouled and confidently converted the resulting penalty. However, their hopes were dashed when Inter regained the lead from a rather contentious spot-kick in the 51st minute.

“After the equaliser, I thought we were back in it. At half-time, we made a few tactical tweaks, but it was frustrating to concede again so soon after the break. I felt the penalty was awarded rather easily.”

The iconic Dutch striker expressed admiration for his adversaries on the night. “I must say, the way Inter throw themselves in front of every ball with full commitment, I can appreciate that too.”

‘I called my mother straight away’

Van Persie handed an 18-year-old winger, Aymen Sliti, his professional debut in Milan. The young talent started in place of the injured Igor Paixao. “As soon as I found out I was in the starting line-up, I called my mother immediately,” shared Sliti.

“The manager advised me to just play my game and be free on the pitch. It was a bit of an adjustment, though, as Inter played defensively, which made my movements challenging.”