Friday, August 13, 2021 at 3:11 PM• Dominic Mostert

The KNVB rejected a request from Feyenoord to move the home game against Go Ahead Eagles (Sunday, August 22), but the club will soon submit a new request regarding the home game against FC Utrecht on Sunday, August 29. Arne Slot, the trainer of Feyenoord, tells Friday afternoon at the press conference for the duel with Willem II that a request is being made to have the duel with Utrecht take place later.

The KNVB announced on Friday morning that Vitesse may play against Willem II on Sunday 22 August, three days after the first meeting with Anderlecht in the play-off round of the Conference League: the starting time has been moved from 2.30 pm to 4.45 pm. However, Feyenoord will play against Go Ahead three days after the home game with IF Elfsborg at 2.30 pm. “Due to the distribution of the live matches, both matches cannot be moved. Because Vitesse, unlike Feyenoord, plays a European away game prior to the match weekend, only Vitesse – Willem II will be moved to a later date,” according to the KNVB.

Feyenoord will play against Elfsborg on Thursday 26 August and, according to the current schedule, will play against FC Utrecht on Sunday 29 August at 12.15 pm. Slot would find it “very logical” to play that match later. “We will also ask that question. Playing in Elfsborg on Thursday evening and playing again at 12.15 pm on Sunday is not something we have agreed with each other. Other people within Feyenoord are working on it and I cannot yet tell you what the It is a wish from us and from every club; you would like to go to 4.45 pm, as will also be arranged for Vitesse next week. I think that is completely logical.”

Slot is also asked about the pre-selection of the Dutch national team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Louis van Gaal recorded three Feyenoord players with Justin Bijlow, Tyrell Malacia and Guus Til. “That’s very nice for those guys. And in the end it also says something about how we played the last matches,” says Slot, who is specifically asked whether Malacia can use his debut in the pre-selection as a handle to develop even more. “I think it’s always good. Self-confidence is something very important in football. If you receive confirmation in matches that you are playing well and also receive confirmation that the current national coach thinks you belong to the best 25 players in the Netherlands , that is every reason to gain a lot of confidence. I hope and expect that it is also a reason for him to get even more out of himself in the coming weeks and months.”