Feyenoord’s Manager Bosschaart Stunned by Champions League Victory Against Milan

Pascal Bosschaart, the caretaker manager of Feyenoord, admitted that he is yet to fully grasp that his team has progressed to the UEFA Champions League round of 16.

Feyenoord eliminated AC Milan at the San Siro after securing a 1-1 draw. Their victory in the first leg in Rotterdam, with a score of 1-0, led to Milan’s exit and marked Feyenoord’s first appearance in the round of 16 since 1993.

“It will probably hit me in the hotel,” Bosschaart remarked following the match. “Right now, it’s wonderful. Just look at how overjoyed everyone is… What a fantastic evening.”

“This reflects everything about the squad; they have character. That’s what I take the most pride in.”

Bosschaart stepped into the caretaker role after Danish manager Brian Priske was dismissed just before the first leg of the Champions League knockout stage. Under Priske’s guidance, Feyenoord managed to secure impressive victories against teams like Bayern Munich and Benfica and pulled off a remarkable comeback draw against Manchester City, yet struggled in the Dutch Eredivisie, failing to connect with the squad, as noted by Feyenoord’s technical director, Dennis te Kloese.

In his first three matches at the helm, Bosschaart remains unbeaten, having beaten Milan 1-0 at home, before drawing 0-0 with NAC Breda and securing a 1-1 draw at the San Siro.

“They’re going through a challenging period filled with criticism. The coaching change added to the turbulence. Then an unknown figure steps in front of the group and sometimes offers empty platitudes,” Bosschaart quipped. “However, we are very clear, honest, and transparent. And they have responded remarkably well to that.”

Feyenoord faced adversity early in the match in Milan, conceding a goal just 37 seconds in, courtesy of former star Santiago Gimenez. “When you concede a goal that quickly, it shows we weren’t sharp enough. Our game plan had to adapt,” Bosschaart explained.

Lady luck favoured Feyenoord when AC Milan was reduced to ten men after Theo Hernandez received a second yellow card for diving.

‘While many may claim that the red card was the reason for our success, I felt we had already started to play well with the numerical disadvantage in the first half. After the red card, the game became easier for us.”