It seems that Cyriel Dessers will act as the deepest striker at Feyenoord for the time being. The Belgian attacker started on Thursday against Partizan Belgrade (2-5) and paid back Arne Slot’s confidence with a goal and an assist. It is therefore expected that not Bryan Linssen but Dessers will be the attack leader of Feyenoord on Sunday in the away game against relegation candidate PEC Zwolle.
“I think that is quite logical. If you have left Bryan alone for a long time, it is strange to say to Cyriel now that he is participating once and Bryan again next week,” Slot hinted afterwards in conversation with ESPN on a new base for Dessers, against Partizan one of the stars of the Rotterdam team. However, the coach still had a blow to his arm. “We will play against another opponent on Sunday with a completely different system. Then it may well be the case that we will fill in the striker position differently. But that is something we can start thinking about from now on.”
Dessers was happy with his part in Feyenoord’s 2-5 victory, but the striker also pointed out a negative point after the European game in Belgrade. “I was not really satisfied with the first fifteen minutes,” he told ESPN† “I had a few bad rebounds and a few duels that I only had halfway through. Then I came into the game, I was able to turn away a few times, I rebound well and I certainly showed what I can do in the second half.” Despite this, there is mostly satisfaction with his first starting position in three months. “Then I thought I was doing reasonably well both physically and on the field. I hope this is the starting signal: the first game ok, the second good and from the third game I can hopefully get back to my top form. I’m looking forward to that , to finally show that.”
Despite the big win, Slot was disappointed by the fact that Feyenoord faced a deficit against Partizan twice. “That we have been behind twice in this match, that is really unnecessary. We come back continuously this season, but I said after the game: ‘It would also be nice if you didn’t show me that once’ “, said Slot, who saw his team fall behind in the last four matches. “In my opinion, our opponent was nowhere today, but we gave them twice the enormous energy of a lead. We could cut ourselves in the fingers at any moment. We have been doing this too often in recent weeks, and maybe all season. “, the Feyenoord coach concluded.
Arne Slot seems to prefer Cyriel Dessers to Bryan Linssen as the first striker at Feyenoord for the time being.