Quilindschy Hartman saw that Feyenoord was having a hard time against FC Utrecht: ‘A bit on the tired side’ | Dutch football

“I think we were maybe a little tired in the second half. That doesn’t happen often with us,” Hartman concluded.

The winter break seems to have come at just the right time for Feyenoord. “When putting pressure on, you sometimes noticed that we arrived too late and that we couldn’t really get the pressure on,” said Hartman. “These have been busy months, with a match every three or four days. With frequent travel, flying, hotels. That’s tough. But despite that, it is good that we managed to hold on to the lead.”

Hartman saw that his team had a solution against Utrecht in the opening phase. “In the beginning we were often able to release Mats (Wieffer, ed.), which allowed us to build up a lot of attacks. But in the end it was a bit ‘not quite’. The second balls we were just not short enough, not sharp enough, so we also conceded some opportunities.”

Calvin Stengs made it 1-0 and was also important in the 2-0 with a nice assist. He made a good running action for his goal. “That is what the trainer often says. Come for the goal, be horny for the goal to score,” Stengs said ESPN. “Everyone says it to me a little bit. Then I have to make more runs in depth. That works out better now. And if you score goals, you will continue to do so.”

What did returning to the Netherlands bring him? ,,A lot of. I have put myself back in the picture with the Dutch national team. I play a lot, score a lot of goals. I have brought a lot of things with me from abroad, and if it goes well then it is nice.”

Stengs did have one point of criticism ESPNanalyst Kenneth Perez. “I don’t agree with some of his points. He thinks I don’t care in the big matches. But I think differently about that.” Perez responded: “He has been brought back to really take Feyenoord further in the big matches against Ajax, PSV and Champions League. I don’t think he does that.”

“And the matches against Lazio and Celtic?” Stengs countered. Perez: “Of course he had his moments, but taking the team in tow… Not so, I don’t think so.” Stengs: “He can have his opinion, and I have my opinion about it.”

Feyenoord coach Arne Slot also felt his team diminished after FC Utrecht’s goal. “Things didn’t get any better after that. That was partly due to the goal, but also because I am moving on,” said Slot ESPN. “Not everyone’s fitness is as it was at the start of the season. Fortunately we didn’t concede a goal in the second half.”

“Sometimes it is not only physical fatigue, but also mental fatigue,” Slot continued. “We have Champions League debutants and boys who played in the Dutch team for the first time. You should not underestimate that impact.”

Is Slot jealous of colleague Peter Bosz and his selection at PSV? Feyenoord also did not bring Stengs in to lead Feyenoord in the big matches. I just heard the argument between Calvin and Kenneth. Then you have to buy fifteen million players. We brought him in to help us perform as well as possible in the league and in the Champions League. In the hope that he will develop like this, because they didn’t even play the Champions League at Antwerp, that he will eventually do that with us. We don’t buy those kinds of guys like PSV.”

With a view to the Africa Cup and Asian Cup, will Feyenoord still enter the transfer market? “If you want to get boys from a level in the Premier League who can compete at the top, then you know what transfer fees you have to pay, let alone the salary. That is often the crux for us. That is why we often buy the boys who we can further develop.”