Arne Slot can hardly promise that he and his team have managed to reach the final of the Conference League. The success coach stayed on his feet with his team on Thursday evening against Olympique Marseille (0-0) and guided the team from Rotterdam to the first European final in twenty years. Feyenoord did not know a calm preparation, as the players bus ended up in a traffic jam on the way to the Stade Vélodrome. A brick also came through the window. A request from Slot to postpone the match was not heard by UEFA.
“The moment we drove slower, John de Wolf (assistant trainer, ed.) said it was not a good moment, because he saw bricks,” Slot looks back on the hectic preparation for the game during the press conference. “He hadn’t said that yet or they played me with a brick, I would say, that thing fell right next to me. You don’t expect a brick, but you are counting on hectic. But I didn’t have the impression that our players were bothered by that I don’t want to justify it all, but in this ambiance these things happen,” said a sober Slot.
It is the first time since 2002 that Feyenoord has managed to reach a European final. In this, the AS Roma of José Mourinho is the opponent on Wednesday 25 May. Slot thinks that his formation has recaptured the hearts of Rotterdam fans. “It is very nice that you reach the final, but it is a cliché to say that you have nothing yet. Yet we have won something: we have brought pride back to the supporters,” says Slot. “I definitely get that the Feyenoord supporters are a little extra proud of their club. Not only because of the performance, but also because of the way we play.”
Feyenoord is in a killer program. The top match against PSV awaits in De Kuip on Sunday, after which FC Twente will also come to Rotterdam on the last day of play. Feyenoord seems almost certain of the third place. The lead over the Tukkers is five points with three games to go. “I am especially impressed by how the players have endured physically, you should not underestimate that,” says Slot. “They are able to go consistently this season. That they are so strong physically after nine months is very impressive. I had the impression that we should ask if both teams could change ten times, because it is at the end of the game. both sides looked quite tired.”