Feyenoord returns to the Champions League on Tuesday evening. The Rotterdam team will kick off against Celtic in their own stadium at 9 p.m. Trainer Arne Slot has to do without Santiago Giménez in the first two group matches, who is suspended due to the red card he received last season when he visited AS Roma (4-1). Million dollar purchase Ayase Ueda is missing due to a muscle injury, which means that Newcastle United loanee Yankuba Minteh will take up the attack against the Scots. Furthermore, Feyenoord starts with the same ten names as against SC Heerenveen (6-1) last Saturday.
The fact that Slot chooses Minteh as striker is no longer a surprise after the press conference. The coach gave clear hints on Monday about the Gambian’s playing. “I think everyone sitting here knows who will be in the team. Then there are three players up front, all three of whom can play as a striker, all three of whom can play on the left winger and two of the three can also play on the right winger,” said Slot. “We will train for it later and then we will make that choice.” However, the attackers will not be tied to one specific position against Celtic, the trainer said. “It is also not excluded that the striker position will be filled by different players in phases of the match.”
Furthermore, Slot sees no reasons to change his position. In the absence of Justin Bijlow (wrist fracture), Timon Wellenreuther is still under the bar and envisions a defense with Lutsharel Geertruida, captain Gernot Trauner, Dávid Hancko and Quilindschy Hartman. In midfield, Feyenoord will play with Mats Wieffer, Calvin Stengs and Quinten Timber. In the front, Slot opts for Igor Paixão, Minteh and Luka Ivanusec. Most of the starting eleven will make their debut in the Champions League on Tuesday. The same applies to Slot.
If things don’t work out, Feyenoord has enough flavors on the bench to provide the team with new impetus. Summer signing Ondrej Lingr, among others, is now knocking loudly on the door. The eight-time Czech Republic international was already good for a goal and an assist in his first 24 minutes for Feyenoord. Youngster Leo Sauer seems to have surpassed Alireza Jahanbakhsh as a substitute, as he did have the opportunity to make minutes against Heerenveen. The match between Feyenoord and Celtic can be seen live on Tuesday evening RTL 7.
Presumed Feyenoord line-up: Wellenreuther; Geertruida, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Wieffer, Stengs, Timber; Paixão, Minteh, Ivanusec.