Tom Rofekamp
Latest update:
Feyenoord achieved a businesslike victory over city rivals Sparta Rotterdam (2-0) on Sunday evening and did so with a strongly stripped-down team. Trainer Arne Slot did not have access to no fewer than four basic players: Santiago Gimenez, Gernot Trauner, and Quinten Timber were all missing with injuries. The question remains which of them can play against AS Roma on Thursday, says Slot. “We have to make a well-considered choice about this.”
Due to the overcrowded infirmary, Slot came up with a considerably improvised starting eleven against Sparta. Thomas Beelen stood next to Dávid Hancko in defense, while Timon Wellenreuther and Ramiz Zerrouki took Bijlow's and Timber's place respectively. Ayase Ueda made his starting debut due to a minor injury at Gimenez.
Nevertheless, Feyenoord achieved a business-like victory in De Kuip – or: 'businesswise', as an English physical trainer told Slot. “I thought: How do I say that in English?“, the Feyenoord coach laughs in conversation with afterwards ESPN.
Slot saw a subdued Feyenoord, what he calls 'good and not good'. “Not good because you prefer to have many more chances from having many ball possessions. Good because we did not start playing those hopeless balls so that we did not run into those unnecessary counters all the time.”
Sparta's game would also have bothered Ueda. “Sparta sometimes even played with eleven players around their own sixteen, then you have to hope that the ball falls correctly once or twice.”
Gimenez and Timber question marks
The Japanese may also play in the point on Thursday, if Gimenez does not make it. The Mexican, who has already scored 21 goals this season, is struggling with an overloaded calf.
“Today it was too early for that, quite early even,” says Slot. “The question for him is how he will get in tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Matches follow each other in quick succession and you don't want to take any risks with the busy program we have in the coming months. So we have to make a well-considered choice.”
In addition to Gimenez, Timber also remains a doubt. The midfielder suffered a concussion in the cup match against AZ (0-1 win) and has not trained since. “He was there again yesterday, but not yet to train with or to do much. It will be a very short day towards Thursday.”
Feyenoord will play an intermediate round in the Europa League on Thursday, because it finished third in the Champions League group stage. Should Roma eliminate it, Slot and his team will advance to the eighth finals. The match will kick off on Thursday at 6.45 pm and will take place in De Kuip. The return in Rome follows a week later.
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