It remains to be seen what we can expect from Feyenoord against FC Utrecht this Sunday. Before the winter break, Brian Priske’s team managed to win a number of matches, but the defeat against PSV left a mainly negative atmosphere. The narrow practice victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf, in which the Rotterdam team had many chances, does not say much either.
“You actually hope that you can continue unscathed after such a training camp, but then you see Bart Nieuwkoop drop out and Quinten Timber leave the field during the practice match,” Dennis Kranenburg expressed his disappointment in conversation with RTV Rijnmond. “They expected worse at Timber than it actually is. You also have Hwang with an injury who is currently completing a separate program. That also takes a little longer than you had actually hoped.”
With the absence of In-Beom Hwang and Quinten Timber, Calvin Stengs, Ramiz Zerrouki and Antoni Milambo are expected in midfield. Ali Boussaboun also thinks that these names are good enough for the Eredivisie. “They are all just good players. But if you compare it with the regular midfielders, Hwang and Timber, it is a lot less. In the end you simply lose quality.”
Boussaboun discusses Feyenoord’s expected midfield against FC Utrecht. “Milambo was fantastic against Benfica, but with him it also goes up and down. With Zerrouki we know what his qualities are and if he can play from there, then he is a player who can be of value. Stengs you missed a lot in the first half of the season with a brilliant pass, but how fit is he?”
Feyenoord watcher Kranenburg responds to the question about Stengs’ fitness. “I thought he was really eager. In fact, all the players left an eager impression at the training camp. Sometimes a little too much, such as with the clash between Stengs and Wellenreuther. That of course happens often on the training field. You also see that the goalkeepers each other I’ll try to focus on it for the matches to come.”
