“I am disappointed that we are not through, but we all did everything to it,” said the coach after the defeat at Fenerbahçe (5-2).
“Our goal was the Champions League, we worked hard for that,” Van Persie told Ziggo Sport. “I felt we were very close to the last minute. We went all-in, with the risk of walking on a counter. But I also said the guys that we would rather lose that way, on character, than we got to wait a bit. They thought that was nice to see.”
Champions League dream Feyenoord passed after defeat at Fenerbahçe
Praise for Jordan Lotomba
Van Persie took on Jordan Lotomba, who did not look good at a few goals. “I am very happy with Lotomba. He has been out for a while and when you see how he came back, that’s great. If you zoom in on every player, every player sometimes makes the wrong choice,” said the trainer.
Archie Brown signed for the 1-1 in the 44th minute. © Getty Images
Sem Steijn is disappointed with missed opportunities
Feyenoord captain Sem Steijn thinks that the difference with Fenerbahçe was less than the result of the defeat in Istanbul suggests. “You have to finish the chances we got and they did. I think that’s the big difference today,” said the midfielder.
“It’s a big result, but more important is that you are not through,” Steijn looked back at Ziggo Sport. “I think we were sloppy at times, but the intensity and the will to fight for each other was there.”
Refuge: Feyenoord to Europa League after ample defeat at Fenerbahçe
Quinten Timber appealed to his captain. “The feeling is of course terrible,” he said after the elimination. “But we fought as a team until the end. We also had the opportunities, but in the end it wasn’t enough to continue,” said the midfielder.