Feyenoord is relatively unconcerned about the meeting in the group stage of the Conference League against Slavia Prague. Arne Slot said the day before the match in Rotterdam he had an almost fit selection. “After the last game last Saturday, we had enough rest. Everyone is in good shape.” Only Mark Diemers and Reiss Nelson are still missing.
Slot expects an interesting duel. “The two playing styles match. We both want to be dominant. Of course I hope that we can take the initiative to ourselves. But it won’t be easy,” the Feyenoord trainer said at a press conference. “Slavia has a strong team, became undefeated champion last year and has a huge scoring ability. But we are also doing well this season.”
The main goal of Feyenoord is to maintain the form of the first months of the season. “That can be difficult, of course. We have a busy schedule, luckily, but you also know that everything can change within two days,” emphasized Slot. “That’s why we have to be sharp all the time. Opponents are going to adapt more to us, expectations are getting higher. These are all things to take into account.”
Slot was also criticized for some missteps Tyrell Malacia is making this season. For example, the left back led the 2-2 of the visitors against NEC last weekend with a loss of ball. Slot, however, also sees the criticism as something positive. “That means that the bar is being set higher and higher around Feyenoord. That is also a compliment to the players. But it’s true that Tyrell didn’t look good at that 2-2. That must not happen to him again.”
Slot and Malacia spoke this week about the moment from which a goal was scored. “He is someone who is also self-critical. Tyrell knows that he is now being judged as an the Dutch international. Then you should make these mistakes as little as possible. In addition, he must not forget what made him international: by supporting the attack full of energy and enthusiasm.”
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