Arne Slot called Feyenoord talent Leo Sauer on Thursday evening, on Deadline Day. The eighteen-year-old Slovakian was told by his coach that he will finish the season in De Kuip. Slot also revealed at Friday's press conference that he had an extensive conversation with million-dollar purchase Luka Ivanusec about what needs to be improved about his game.

Slot spoke to Sauer about his chance of more playing time in South Rotterdam. “It has become bigger because a winger has left,” the success coach refers to Javairô Dilrosun. The 25-year-old Amsterdammer was sold to the Mexican Club América on Deadline Day.

“I called Sauer last night (Thursday evening, ed.),” Slot revealed. “Because in the last hours he no longer had to think that he would play elsewhere and could stay with us. He seemed relieved and today I saw again why I am having such an incredible time at this club, because I have a great team that works very hard every day.”

It seemed for a while that Sauer would leave for Excelsior on a rental basis, but in the end Feyenoord refused to cooperate. The Kralingers will finish the season with Couhaib Driouech, as the Moroccan youth international did not move to Feyenoord or PSV on Deadline Day.

Sauer has so far played 224 minutes in Feyenoord's main squad, spread over 10 appearances. In the city derby against Sparta (2-2), the right foot scored his first goal in the service of the Stadium Club. He also provided two assists.

Luca Ivanusec
Sauer is not the only left winger from Feyenoord with whom Slot spoke in recent days. The trainer arrived six minutes late for the press conference on Friday afternoon, because he had an extensive conversation with Ivanusec. The Croatian is one of the players that the technical staff wants more of in the near future.

“I showed him what needs to be improved,” said Slot, who did not want to say much to the journalists present. “I think I've said before what needs to be done differently, but I don't think it's in his interest to tell him every time what needs to be improved. That won't help him either.”

Slot is full of praise for Ivanusec's mentality. “The great thing about him, and I think it's really special, is that he works really hard on what he needs to improve. He also emphatically states that what we demand of him is quite different from what was asked of him in the past.”

According to Slot, Ivanusec recognizes that things can be better. “He also indicates that putting in a lot of work without the ball and then also having the energy to make a difference with the ball is something he has to work hard on. He also wants to take that to a higher level.” The 25-year-old Croatian international, who came from Dinamo Zagreb last summer for around 8 million euros, has so far played 17 official matches (1,288 playing minutes) for Feyenoord. Just like Sauer, he was good for one goal and two assists.

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