Feyenoord supporters are perfectly capable of providing a phenomenal evening without fireworks, according to Arne Slot. At the press conference prior to the Conference League match between Feyenoord and 1. FC Union Berlin, the trainer was asked about the new fine that the Rotterdammers received last week for setting off fireworks. Slot also confirmed during the press moment that Luis Sinisterra is not armpit fresh for the European duel with the number five of the Bundesliga.
Earlier this week Feyenoord was fined for the fourth time this season by UEFA. The Rotterdammers were fined 50,000 euros for setting off fireworks and blocking stairs by some of the fans in the Conference League match with Slavia Prague. Still, Slot emphasizes that the atmosphere in De Kuip is ‘brilliant’. “At night matches anyway, but also at European matches and I think we don’t even need the fireworks for that, because also against NEC Nijmegen it was great without the fireworks. When you enter the field and you see the fireworks, you initially think: oh, that looks nice, but your next thought is: it will cost us a lot of money again.”
The trainer is sure that Het Legioen is able to provide a good atmosphere during the Conference League match with Union Berlin. “I think our supporters are perfectly capable of making it a phenomenal evening even without fireworks,” he says. “I hope this will happen tomorrow so it doesn’t cost us any money.” When asked from the press room whether Slot would rather invest the money from the fine elsewhere in the winter, the trainer responds with a laugh. “Well, when I see the amounts of the fines, I don’t think we can buy a lot of players from that, but that doesn’t mean it might be a waste of money.”
Slot was unable to rely on Sinisterra during the last Eredivisie match against RKC (2-2), who was missing due to international obligations. It is not yet certain whether the winger can play against Union Berlin on Thursday evening. “Luis has not returned completely armpit fresh from Colombia,” the Feyenoord coach said during the press conference. “He had to train a bit adapted yesterday. With no armpit fresh it is not an injury, but more that he is not completely fit. That will have to be seen today if he is ready to play tomorrow.”
“What strikes me is that many clubs say, after playing against Union, that it was their worst game,” Slot looks ahead to the meeting with Union Berlin. “That says a lot about Union. They put the ball on the five meters, shoot it forward as hard as possible and start the battle there. I have seen many matches of this team and they give away very few chances and get few themselves. opportunities.”
Slot stands up for Senesi
Slot stood up for Marcos Senesi during the press conference, who looked unhappy in the matches against Vitesse and RKC Waalwijk. “I think it’s also a switch for Marcos for a while. “With the way we play now, he has to mean a lot more at the ball and that now also has to be in a different way in defense. He has that very much for a longer period of time well done. Unfortunately, now he loses, and also for us, twice a ball from which a goal comes in. I must honestly say, the one against RKC: if there is a goal against twenty seconds after losing the ball, there is also a lot in the meantime to do to prevent that goal. I think that is a different moment than against Vitesse.”