Feyenoord coach Robin van Persie has observed clear improvement in Raheem Sterling’s fitness and influence within the team, though the availability of Tsuyoshi Watanabe for Sunday’s match remains uncertain.
“You can see Raheem getting fresher in his movements,” Van Persie told Feyenoord ONE. “You could see that in a few actions last weekend, and he’s building on that step by step. Off the field, you also see him talking more with other players, sharing experiences, including about his time in England. Players have questions about that, and you see him growing in a calm and enjoyable way. I think it’s important that he takes on that role off the field; it’s part of his status. On the field, you also see him coaching more, and that’s going in the right direction.”
Van Persie believes Sterling’s physical conditioning was key in his initial weeks with the club. “I think that played a role in his first few weeks. He’s reach through that physically well. These are important weeks to build yourself up properly. Initially, you need all the attention on yourself. It all goes hand in hand – he’s getting fitter and better. He’s having more impact during his actions. I think it’s great to see, and it’s logical that it was a bit more difficult in the first few weeks.”
Sterling also appears to be overcoming limitations in playing time. “He was disappointed after being substituted after an hour in the match against NAC. From a physical point of view, I thought an hour was logical, but it’s also good due to the fact that he’s a player who wants to play. Last match it was around eighty minutes. You’d say he’s through that now, that he’s no longer limited. It also depends on what he delivers, which I’ve discussed with him. What we expect in attack and defense. I want to see more of those impactful actions, more often and closer together. We talked about that, and he agrees, but in terms of minutes, he’s no longer limited.”
The status of several players remains uncertain heading into Sunday’s game. Van Persie notes progress in the recovery of multiple injured players, but is hesitant to craft any definitive announcements. “A number of players are making steps in their recovery. That’s positive, but it’s too early to say whether they will be available on Sunday and whether they can play a role.” Van Persie remained cautious when discussing Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s situation. “It’s too early for me to give clarity on that.”
