Media overview: ‘Feyenoord has rewarded itself with eternal memories’ | NOW

The Dutch newspapers concluded the day after Feyenoord’s defeat in the Conference League final against AS Roma that the Rotterdam team were tactically no match for coach José Mourinho. Nevertheless, the European performance is appreciated. Mourinho gets all the praise in the Italian media.

“The final in Tirana as the ultimate momentum of the season turned out to be paralyzing. Except for a flashy first five minutes and twenty minutes immediately after the break, the team was unable to throw off the hesitation. Full confidence in what Feyenoord had done all season was missing from the squad,” writes The Telegraph Thursday.

The newspaper does see plenty of prospects for the team of trainer Arne Slot. “Feyenoord has rewarded itself with eternal memories. Although without a price, but it tastes like more. Let this be the starting point for taking a main prize next season.”

Also the AD concludes that Feyenoord had no answer to Roma’s game. “The final was not a suitable final piece. It was beech on a Roman wall that would not fall over in the sweltering Tirana,” writes the daily.

“Arne Slot must have felt like Louis van Gaal or Peter Bosz halfway through the final. To finish the game in a final battle against a Jose Mourinho team, that has often proved an impossible task.”

‘There is new pride and sympathy around Feyenoord’

According to de Volkskrant the 1-0 defeat is not only due to tactics. “Feyenoord has players with a lot of potential, such as Malacia, Geertruida and Sinisterra, but also a lot of mediocrity. It made too many individual mistakes and could not create a long-lasting storm towards the Roma goal.”

Despite the painful defeat in Tirana, there is appreciation in the newspapers for Feyenoord’s performance in Europe. “Losing a European final is sour, but Feyenoord can quickly console itself with the knowledge that it has performed far beyond expectations in Europe,” reports Fidelity†

“The long journey through Europe at nine stations radically changed the atmosphere around the club, from cynicism and gloom last year to new pride among the large following and sympathy in the rest of the country.”

Mourinho can turn a mediocre team into a queen

In Italy it is also concluded that the final was not of the highest level, but this is not considered for a very long time. “The Conference League does not have the allure of the Champions League, we know that. But it is very important for Italy, AS Roma and the city of Rome,” reports La Gazzetta dello Sportwhich calls the success important for Italian football.

“Unfortunately, Italy is not going to the World Cup and only God knows how much that hurts us, but winning this cup shows that it was no coincidence that we became European champions last year. Our football is successful again, even with a club in Europe.”

La Republica gives Mourinho all the credit. “There was only one man who could achieve this. He can turn a mediocre team into a queen. It took Mourinho a year to help Roma win a prize after fourteen years and put European back on the map.”

Also Corriere della Sera praises Mourinho. “This is a success for the future. A certain maturity is starting to come into the squad. Under the indomitable and sometimes excessive Mourinho, Roma don’t play much better than a year ago, but the squad is much more of a collective.”