Feyenoord owes a lot this season to the good game of the two backs. That is the view of Wim Kieft, who sees that Quilindschy Hartman in particular claims a leading role. The left back did not start this season as the first choice, but it is now impossible to imagine the Rotterdam base without it. Kieft therefore calls him a ‘revelation’.
During the preview of the match between Feyenoord and AS Roma, in which the Stadionclub defends a 1-0 victory from the first leg, Kieft is asked how he assesses the two backs of the team from Rotterdam. The analyst is very positive. “Geertruida is of course an all-rounder, because she can also play centrally, but as far as I’m concerned, Hartman is really a revelation. I like it so much, in the first game he played he immediately gave a great ball. He just really dares to do that and is very strong on the ball.”
Hartman is also kicking off at Feyenoord during the return in the quarterfinals of the Europa League against Roma. The youth product forms the rearguard together with Geertruida, Gernot Trauner and Dávid Hancko. Justin Bijlow defends the goal, while Mats Wieffer and Sebastian Szymanski provide the running ability in midfield. Orkun Kökçü is the playmaker and in the front there are basic places for Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Santiago Giménez and Oussama Idrissi. Igor Paixão is sitting on the couch.
The defense of the team from Rotterdam, of which Hartman is also a part, will not have to deal with Paulo Dybala. The Argentinian was injured in De Kuip last week and was not found to be fit enough to participate in the return in Stadio Olimpico. On paper, Andrea Belotti is the only striker to send coach José Mourinho into the meadow, but there will also be offensive impulses from players such as Lorenzo Pellegrini, Georginio Wijnaldum and Bryan Cristante. In addition, Roma starts with two high wingbacks.
Line-up Feyenoord: Bijlow; Geertruida, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Wieffer, Kökcu, Szymanski; Jahanbakhsh, Gimenez, Idrissi
Lineup AS Roma: Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Diego Llorente; Zalewski, Cristante, Matic, Wijnaldum, Spinazzola; Pellegrin; Belotti