Arne Slot is very pleased with the 1-0 victory that Feyenoord managed to book on Thursday evening in De Kuip against Lazio. With the win, the team from Rotterdam is assured of a place in the eighth finals of the Europa League. “This is a special moment for the club. It is the first time in twenty years that we are in the last sixteen of Europe at this level,” said Slot.
Where Feyenoord lost to Sturm Graz in injury time last week, the Stadionclub remained strong against Lazio with 1-0. “One week is not the other,” Slot says with a laugh at the press conference. “Even now we conceded a corner in the 93rd minute. Of course it is that close in football, especially at this level. All four teams were very close to each other. Then it has to do with very small things whether you are just on the right side of the score or not. Last week that was clearly not the case, due to the standard situation in the 93rd minute. We have defended them very well.”
Thanks in part to some excellent saves from Justin Bijlow, Feyenoord booked a much-needed victory over Lazio. “We needed a good keeper and scored at a very nice moment,” says Slot, who was also satisfied with Santiago Giménez. Cold in the field, the striker immediately took the only and winning goal as a substitute for Danilo. “The focus is mainly on the goal, but I also don’t want to forget who gave the assist and how beautiful it was. It belonged to substitute Quilindschy Hartman. As a trainer, it’s quite nice when two of your substitutes are involved in a goal.”
Slot also attaches great importance to the fact that Feyenoord has become group winner, despite the metamorphosis that the selection underwent last summer. “This is a special moment for the club. It is the first time in twenty years that we are in the last sixteen in Europe at this level, as number three in the Netherlands last season, where almost everyone left,” said Slot. The trainer emphasizes the ‘completely different level’, compared to last season’s Conference League, which Feyenoord now plays in. “If you add the last transfer period, in which we lost a lot of players, I think it is even more special. ”