Feyenoord is facing increased scrutiny as the team navigates a challenging stretch of form. Recent discussions in the Dick voorMekaar Podcast have focused on the role of the supporters, the performance against Excelsior, and the mental state of Robin van Persie’s squad.
Analyst Michel van Egmond believes regaining the support of the club’s fanbase, known as Het Legioen, will be relatively straightforward. He expressed surprise at Van Persie’s call to rediscover the team’s momentum, suggesting it shouldn’t be a difficult task on the pitch. “There’s no fanbase easier to win over. all it takes is showing effort for five minutes, and De Kuip will be right behind you,” Van Egmond stated.
Club reporter Martijn Krabbendam offered a different perspective on the atmosphere leading up to the match against Excelsior. “The mood before the game was good, with banners displayed, as it has been for weeks. I didn’t sense any hostility, stress, or anger. Fans were enthusiastic and singing before kickoff. A quick goal would have set the tone heading into the match against Ajax. But once the game started, it felt like Excelsior was entirely in control, dominating possession while Feyenoord chased the ball. I’ve never seen anything like it at De Kuip. At halftime, I couldn’t see how the players could turn things around.”
Van Egmond emphasized the mental aspect as a key factor in Feyenoord’s current struggles. “This is all in the players’ heads. Fear is blocking them, and they’re feeling the pressure. They’re making things too complicated. They just need to push forward from the first minute, make some tackles, and the stadium will get behind them. That would rattle Excelsior and likely settle the game.”
Former international Ruud Gullit voiced his support for the Feyenoord supporters in Rondo. “The Feyenoord fans aren’t overly critical. They can tolerate a poor performance, and they’re right to expect a reaction when things aren’t going well. They showed improvement in the second half, but it’s clearly a matter of confidence. Of course, the injuries continue to be a problem. It’s ridiculous at the moment; the club needs to investigate internally to find the root cause.”
Gullit also noted a lack of tactical structure within the team, drawing a comparison to his time at AC Milan. “I’ll say it again, at Milan, we practiced defending almost every day. We used colors to mark different areas of the field, lined up in formation, and shifted compactly wherever the ball went. We did that constantly. The attacking play was simply about combining passes. Every day was focused on defending, defending, and defending. That’s what we trained on at Milan every day, and it allowed the attacking play to develop naturally.”
Despite the challenges, Gullit remains confident in Van Persie’s ability to prepare the team for the upcoming Klassieker. “I hope Van Persie can turn things around. I’ll continue to support him. It’s not easy with all the injuries. Sunday’s match will be a true test.”
