Hugo Borst Comments on Robin van Persie’s Tenure at Feyenoord

Robin van Persie experienced a challenging period with Feyenoord before the winter break. The team’s frequent losses have placed him under scrutiny, especially considering they trail league leaders PSV by eleven points, with Ajax close behind at five points.

Hugo Borst has expressed that Van Persie should continue to receive support for now, though he acknowledges that the situation can change rapidly.

Reflecting on the recent dismissal of Ajax’s John Heitinga after a string of poor results, Borst was critical in his assessment of Heitinga, stating, “The coach has no vision or compelling narrative. He fails to impress—neither his players nor the dedicated supporters, and certainly not the journalists.” In contrast, Borst holds a more favorable view of Van Persie, suggesting that his circumstances differ significantly from those of Heitinga.

Borst attributes Van Persie’s potential for success partly to his strong presence, although he criticizes some of the choices made by the coach. He pointed out that while Van Persie’s outlook was not particularly impressive, his strong personality is a notable asset. However, Borst expressed concern over Van Persie’s decision to strip the captaincy from Quinten Timber, giving it instead to less prominent players. “The top three were individuals lacking any real character, and I found that quite alarming,” he remarked.