Feyenoord will travel with confidence to Istanbul for the Return in the third preliminary round of the Champions League next week due to Wednesday’s victory at Fenerbahçe. Trainer Robin van Persie and captain Sem Steijn do not fear the Turkish witch’s kettle.
When Fenerbahçe coach José Mourinho was asked after the game about the opportunities for the return, the Portuguese said he is confident that his team will undo the backlog in his own stadium.
Mourinho discussed the atmosphere that he expected on Tuesday (kick -off at 7 p.m.) in the ‘Fener’ stadium. “Feyenoord had a fantastic audience behind him. We can also have a great audience next week,” said Mourinho.
“With our fans we are capable of much. I say: Welcome to Istanbul, Welcome to Kadiköy (the neighborhood in which the Stadium of Fenerbahçe is located, ed.), Welcome to Hell.”
Van Persie started his press conference about twenty minutes later and responded to the striking words Mourinho. “If I have understood correctly, we must prepare for the hell of Istanbul,” said Van Persie, who himself played for Fenerbahçe between 2015 and 2018.
“I have experienced enough competitions in Kadiköy. The atmosphere will undoubtedly be good. But we are used to it. We don’t walk away from that.”
Timber shoots through Turkish defender for Feyenoord in preliminary round CL
Hadj Moussa makes his first head goal ever
Also in De Kuip the atmosphere was good on Wednesday evening, after a victory that came about through goals from Quinten Timber for Rust and Anis Hadj Moussa just before time. Feyenoord played very well before half time.
Feyenoord was right to rest with a 1-0 lead, but had much less grip in the second half. “We seemed to be a bit lower in our energy, which made us trouble getting out of pressure,” said Van Persie.
But Feyenoord hardly gave away any opportunities, thanks to center defenders Tsuyoshi Watanabe and Anel Ahmedhodzic. The two formed the central duo, while they had only trained once. “But you really couldn’t see that they had never played together.”
‘Fener’ came to 1-1 just before time, after which the atmosphere was printed in De Kuip. But Sem Steijn immediately got the feeling that Feyenoord could still win. “Because we started playing more ahead after that goal,” said Steijn. “The audience shouted us ahead.”
The winning goal then fell, via Hadj Moussa. Calculated the 1.76 meter long Algerian headed hit. Van Persie enjoyed the goal. “Moussa just came to me and said,” Trainer, this was my first head goal ever. “Well, he fell at a nice moment.”
HADJ MOUSSA Laat de Kuip explode with winning goal in injury time
‘There were many screaming people’
Because of that late goal, Feyenoord will travel with confidence to Istanbul for the decisive return next week. “This gives us a huge boost,” said Steijn. “But we’re going to get a tough game there.”
Just like Van Persie, Steijn knows that it can spoken in the stadium of Fenerbahçe. He played there in August 2023 with FC Twente in the preliminary round of the Conference League and lost – after a red card from Youri Regeer – with no less than 5-1.
“It will be a witch kettle there,” Steijn predicted. “I remember the many screaming people from that match with FC Twente, so you couldn’t understand each other well. Although we didn’t understand each other in De Kuip today either.”
Steijn does not think that the Feyenoord players will be impressed by the ambiance. “We are also used to a lot. Let it come.”
Feyenoord, thanks to Wednesday’s Victory about Fenerbahçe, Will Travel to Istanbul Next Week with Confidence for the Return Leg in the Third Preliminary Round of the Champions League. Coach Robin van Persie and Captain Sem Steijn Are Not Afraid of the Turkish Cauldron.
When Fenerbahçe Coach José Mourinho was Asked about the Chances for the Return Leg After the Match, The Portuguese Said He was confident that his team would make up the deficit in their Own Stadium.
Mourinho discussed the Atmosphere He expects on Tuesday (Kick-off at 7:00 pm) in ‘Fener’s’ stage. “Feyenoord had A Fantastic Crowd Behind Them. We can also have a great crowd next week,” Said Mourinho.
“With our fans, we are capable of a lot. I Say: Welcome to Istanbul, Welcome to Kadiköy (The District Where Fenerbahçe’s Stadium is Located), Welcome to Hell.”
Van Persie started his press conference about twenty minutes later and responded to mourinho’s striking words. “If I understand correctly, we have to prepare for the hell of Istanbul,” Said van Persie, who himself played for fenerbahçe betsen 2015 and 2018.
“I have experienced enough matches in Kadiköy myself. The atmosphere will undoubtedly be good. But we are used to that. We don’t run away from that.”
Timber Scores for Feyenoord in Champions League Preliminary Round via Turkish Defender
HADJ MOUSSA Scores His First Header ever
The Atmosphere in De Kuip was also good on Wednesday Evening, After a Victory Achieved Through Goals from Quinten Timber Before Before Half-Time and Anis Hadj Moussa Just Before the End. Feyenoord Played Very Well Before Half-Time.
Feyenoord Rightly Went to Rest With A 1-0 Lead, but had much less grip in the second half. “We Seemed to Have a Bit Lower Energy, which Made It Difficult for Us To Get Out From Under The Pressure,” Said van Persie.
But Feyenoord Hardly Gave Away Any Chances, Thanks to Central Defenders Tsuyoshi Watanabe and Anel Ahmedhodzic. The Two Formed the Central Duo, While They had only trained together. “But you really couldn’t tell that they never had played together before.”
‘Fener’ Came to 1-1 Just before time, after which the atmosphere was subdued in De Kuip. But Sem Steijn Immediately had The Feeling That Feyenoord Could Still Win. “Because after that goal we started playing forward more,” Said Steijn. “The crowd shouted US Forward.”
The winning goal then Fell Anyway, via Hadj Moussa. The 1.76 meter Tall Algerian Headed in. Van Persie Enjoyed the goal. “Moussa just came up to me and said:” Coach, this was my first header ever “. Well, it fell at a good time.”
Hadj Moussa Makes De Kuip Explode with Winning Goal in Injury Time
‘There Were Many Shouting People’
Due to that late goal, Feyenoord Will Travel to Istanbul Next Week with Confidence for the Decisive Return. “This gives us a huge boost,” Said Steijn. “But we Will Have Another Tough Game There.”
Like van Persie, Steijn Knows that it can be spooky in the Fenerbahçe Stadium. He Played There in August 2023 with FC Twente in the Preliminary Round of the Conference League and Lost there – After a Red Card From Youri Reigner – By No Less than 5-1.
“It will be a cauldron there,” Predicted Steijn. “I remember from that match with FC Twente the Many shouting people, which make it difficult to understand each other. Althegh we didn’t understand each other well Today in the Kuip either.”
Steijn Doesn’t Think That The Feyenoord Players Will Be Impressed by The Ambiance. “We are also used to a lot. Bring it on.”