Arne Slot was very disappointed on Thursday evening after Feyenoord’s defeat at Lazio (4-2). The trainer saw that his team was completely wiped out before half-time, but remains realistic in front of the cameras of Veronica. Slot thinks that Feyenoord still has to get used to the level of the Europa League.
“This went very differently than I had imagined,” said Slot, who can put Feyenoord’s performance into perspective. “This is what you get when you start playing at a level that you haven’t been tested on. The pace is higher and then it is also about free running, putting pressure, sprinting back, closing spaces. We fell short of that.” Feyenoord played in the Conference League last season. At a lower level, the Rotterdam team made it to the final, in which they lost to AS Roma (1-0).
Slot saw during the first half that his team had trouble applying his instructions. “I find it annoying that it happens, the boys are there with the best intentions. You try to indicate something, but defensively we were not in order. We simply lost the ball, but it is also difficult to be good at the ball when you are outplayed like that.” Feyenoord saw many experienced players leave this summer, while mostly unknown talented players returned.
Slot was satisfied with the second half of his team, although he does not want to weigh that too heavily. “I’ve seen a good response, because how do you react after such an ear wash? You should not attach too much importance to it, but such a match can also end differently. In the end you score two good goals and you have had chances for more. But so did the opponent.”