Feyenoord Faces Pressure Ahead of Europa League Clash with Celtic

Rotterdam, Netherlands – Feyenoord is gearing up for a crucial Europa League match against Celtic on Thursday, November 27, at 5:45 PM GMT. This match comes as pressure mounts on manager Robin van Persie to turn around the team’s fortunes.

Van Persie, a former star player for Feyenoord, Arsenal, and Manchester United, took over as head coach in February. He replaced Brian Priske after a tough start to the season. However, recent results have not gone in Feyenoord’s favor, as the team has lost four of its last five matches, including a damaging defeat to Stuttgart in the Europa League.

“This isn’t typical of us,” Van Persie said after a recent 4-2 home loss to NEC Nijmegen. “When you play that well, it’s hard to swallow.” Despite his team’s struggles, Van Persie insists that individual errors are the main issue rather than a systemic collapse of the team’s performance.

As Feyenoord prepares to face Celtic, they will be without some key players, including Givairo Read and Cyle Larin. This lack of depth has compounded their struggles as they sit below Celtic in the group standings. Their leading scorer, Ayase Ueda, has found the net 13 times this season, adding hope amid their difficulties.

The stakes for Celtic are similarly high, as they need at least one point to maintain a chance at advancing in the tournament. Van Persie understands the urgency of the situation: “We have to defend better in our next match,” he said, summing up the importance of the upcoming fixture.

Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium, known for its intimidating atmosphere, will have a section closed due to UEFA sanctions, removing one of their key advantages. Although the team is facing a tough time, Van Persie reassures fans that the quality of the squad remains. With the tensions of European competition, both teams are expected to put forth their best efforts in this high-stakes matchup.