Orkun Kökçü is disappointed with the way Santiago Giménez handled the penalty for Feyenoord during the match against Lazio (4-2 defeat). Feyenoord’s Mexican striker claimed the penalty, while Kokcu is actually Feyenoord’s first penalty taker. Kökçü was visibly annoyed in front of .’s cameras after the match ESPN.
“At the first penalty there was already a little discussion because we had a sheet in the locker room with the penalty takers”, says Kökçü. “Our striker chose to make his own choice. I said something about that and so did the trainer, but he chose it himself. I thought it was a shame that even though I have the captain’s armband, he does his own thing.” Giménez convincingly scored the penalty.
Yet Kökçü does not think this is the right way. “I was a little angry about it. We know he can score it, that’s not the problem. But it was more about the rules and respect for each other.” Kökçü is still the first penalty taker on the list at Feyenoord this year. “Last year I took them and that continues. I was number one on the paper, but I haven’t taken it now. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll stay there.”
The midfielder, who plays for Turkey in his international career, has taken three penalties in his career so far. In the home and away game against NEC he was accurate last season, but Kökçü missed out at Fortuna Sittard. The captain can count on support from ESPNanalyst Kenneth Perez. “I don’t like the discussion between two teammates about who will take the penalty. We didn’t see the moment, because that was outside the cameras. Imagine that Kökçü wanted to be the bigger man and said: ‘Take him, we’ll discuss it after the game’, then I think that’s very good of Kökçü. I think captain worthy of that.”
Trainer Arne Slot did not want to make the moment bigger than it was during the press conference. Slot indicates that it may be quite normal in Mexico and points to the logical cultural differences that currently exist within the selection of Feyenoord. “You discuss this and there you give your opinion very clearly about how you want to see it in the future. Then it is mainly about how it is handled. In this case, I think it’s a mistake, but a mistake that is not a mistake in the culture of Santiago. He comes to the Netherlands, but he has to adapt to our culture and we have to immerse ourselves in his culture again. So I did that today.”