Concerns Grow for Feyenoord Amidst Title Race Setback

On Sunday, Feyenoord faced a disappointing 2-4 defeat against NEC, further hindering their campaign in the title race against PSV. Former striker Geert den Ouden has voiced his concerns regarding the team’s performance and results, suggesting that under the management of Robin van Persie, they appear increasingly unlikely to secure the championship.

In an interview with FC Rijnmond, den Ouden noted that Feyenoord has struggled to secure victories against stronger opponents. “They simply win too few matches against teams that exceed the average in the Eredivisie. Looking at Feyenoord’s last ten games, they have only triumphed over Groningen, Heracles, and FC Volendam. At the beginning of the season, I was quite optimistic about Feyenoord’s winning streak, especially in contrast to previous seasons. However, since competing in the Europa League against teams like Braga and Villa, as well as the Eredivisie clash with PSV, they’ve lost all encounters against teams in the top half of the table.”

While den Ouden refrains from individually criticizing players, he is concerned about the current playing style under Van Persie. “It’s still too early to dismiss them. Feyenoord has had players in the past who required time to adjust. I recall that Paixão and Sinisterra also faced challenges in their initial performances. While I believe it’s premature to write them off, I am genuinely worried about the overall playing strategy of Feyenoord.”

Den Ouden feels it is prudent to reconsider any hopes of a championship this season. “You are Feyenoord, and naturally, the goal is to become champions, but I don’t think that will happen this year.” This comes in stark contrast to Van Persie’s earlier assertions at the start of the season, where he emphasized that Feyenoord was aiming for the title.