John Guidetti is returning to Rotterdam to witness De Klassieker, the highly anticipated clash between Feyenoord and Ajax on Sunday afternoon. The Swedish former striker, a fan favorite during his single season with the club, fondly remembers his time at De Kuip, particularly his hat trick in a home match against Ajax. Ahead of the game, Guidetti is urging Feyenoord supporters – known as Het Legioen – to rally behind the team in what he believes could be a decisive encounter.
Speaking with Feyenoord ONE, Guidetti explained what brings him back to Rotterdam. “What brings me back to Rotterdam? Feyenoord is a club that meant a lot to me,” the Swede said. “A club that was in my heart, part of my career. My son wanted to go to a football match with some friends. I told him there’s no better and bigger match than Feyenoord. I told him that Feyenoord supporters are also crazy, and when I say crazy, I mean it in a solid way.”
The former forward then reminisced about his most memorable afternoon in a Feyenoord shirt. “I had a great year when I played for Feyenoord. I made a lot of beautiful memories. I think it all comes down to scoring three goals against the people from the other city. I think that match meant more to the people than I could have believed or imagined when I signed for this club. I remember everything from the match, honestly. I still remember going 1-0 down early, Christian Eriksen scoring a beautiful goal with his left foot, and then having a bad first touch, and jumping. The Italian part of me thought: it’s worth a try. It was enough to get a penalty. Later in the match, I was able to score the 4-2, which calmed everyone down a bit. It was a great day. We then celebrated with the supporters for another 35 to 40 minutes. We took the microphone, sang and danced. It was a wonderful day.”
Guidetti anticipates another intense battle on Sunday, where character will be key. “I think it all comes down to character. It’s about who wants the ball when it matters. So I have high expectations.” He also highlighted the importance of the match in the league standings. “You need that extra push, and you also need to realize that if you win the match, you have a big advantage in the competition and can really distance yourself from your biggest rivals for the Champions League ticket. That’s a huge motivation.”
According to Guidetti, De Klassieker is the perfect stage for players to cement their legendary status at Feyenoord. “These are the kinds of matches that can make you a legend. So if you wish to develop into a legend at a great club like Feyenoord, This represents the moment to do it. 50,000 people would give their lives to be on the pitch doing what they do. So, you know, you have to enjoy it. You also have to be proud of what you do. You have to seize the opportunity, because these are the matches that can make you a Feyenoord legend.”
