‘It’s bizarre how the final is alive here. It looks like they are organizing a World Cup’

Bye Bart, Feyenoord has been looking forward to this final for weeks. What kind of tactical plan has trainer Arne Slot devised for his players, do you think?

Slot wants to play the same way as last season. He wants to exert pressure up front: if the goalkeeper or the defenders of AS Roma have the ball, Feyenoord must put them under pressure in phases. But Slot also knows that the opponents’ coach, José Mourinho, will want to avoid that pressure by, for example, quickly playing the ball forward or moving it from left to right.

“The psychological qualities of the trainer are important tonight. How do they take the stress away? Feyenoord striker Bryan Linssen said that they had already had some match discussions at the training camp in Portugal last week, which has built up a lot of tension. That can also have a negative effect. Now Slot tries to take that tension off again. Slot himself seems quite relaxed, although this match could also mean a lot for his career. I like that.’

What can we expect from Roma?

“Roma has more qualities individually, I think. For example, Roma bought his striker Tammy Abraham for 40 million euros from Chelsea, while Feyenoord took over a transfer-free striker from Vitesse with Linssen and rents an attacker with Cyriel Dessers who did not get much work at Belgian club Genk. The transfer value of the Roma players is three times as high as that of Feyenoord.

‘The crux for Feyenoord is to compensate for that as a team. I think Roma is slightly favorite for the win. But they don’t have many players with experience in these kinds of matches. I’m a little worried that the Roma players will constantly try to provoke fouls and then the whole Roma bench will bounce, Mourinho in front. If the referee doesn’t see through that, it will be a nasty match.

“I expect most fans in the stadium to support Roma. Many Albanians have relatives in Italy and the prime minister and mayor have already expressed their preference for Roma. But Feyenoord has already proven to be able to win difficult away games earlier this season and will be supported by at least five thousand men.’

The European season started for Feyenoord 307 days ago. Is the team still fit enough?

“Feyenoord has shown all season that it is able to go full throttle for 90 minutes, even if it had to play twice a week. Even if the players put pressure in the front, they are back in time in the back to avert the danger. Feyenoord has had a week and a half off. They have had time to heal aches and pains, even goalkeeper Bijlow is fit in time. Roma played their last league game last Friday, which in turn has the advantage that you stay in rhythm and that the tension has accumulated for less time.

“It will mainly be a question of which team can best control its nerves and play the most task-oriented. And, as always, whoever is lucky.’

Yesterday the players of Feyenoord and Roma arrived in Tirana. Is the Albanian capital ready for the final?

‘It’s bizarre how the final is alive here. I’ve never experienced that before, not even in cities where Champions League finals were held. Residents of Tirana have taken or been given a day off en masse. Car traffic has been shut down throughout the city: you can walk and cycle everywhere. Moreover, the entire city is covered with large canvases and banners from the final, up to the town hall and opera house. It looks like they are organizing a World Cup.

For the fans of both clubs it sucks that the stadium’s capacity is small. There can only be 22.5 thousand people at the game. Perhaps that is not enough for a European final: in terms of interest, this was a final for at least 60,000 people. Some supporters are still going on a ticket hunt today. Albanians have been able to buy a ticket for low prices, but I heard that those tickets are sold on for 600 to 700 euros.’

‘The fans from Rotterdam and Rome are kept well apart. The vast majority are not interested in confrontation at all. Things got a little out of hand at the stadium last night. According to the Albanian authorities, 60 fans were arrested, the majority of whom were Italians and. A number of police officers were injured. Considering how many avid fans have traveled to the city, such a riot was almost inevitable. I hope, also for the Albanians, that it will be a good match, with a positive atmosphere, without riots. But I do fear it: some groups are out to riot and I doubt whether the local police have experience with that.’

Finally, what are you going to pay particular attention to tonight?

“I’m looking forward to the battle on the flanks. Presumably Leonardo Spinazzola, the fantastic left back of Roma who also performed well at the European Championship, is fit in time. He has also caused problems for the Dutch national team in the past. On the other side is Rick Karsdorp. He comes from Feyenoord and has developed well at Roma and is often on the moped on the right side. At Feyenoord, Tyrell Malacia and Lutsharel Geertruida, two boys from their own youth, will have to find an answer to that. But she has since been entrusted with that.’

‘I’m also really looking forward to the run-up. The anticipation in this type of competition is often tastier than the main course itself. Enthusiasm radiates from the faces, both among the locals and the fans. The vast majority come here for one big, peaceful feast.’