The Club of the People: Feyenoord Rotterdam

I'll be disappointed if PSV even get close to winning

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27 April 2018

Feyenoord Vs. PSV Eindhoven: KNVB Beker Final Preview

The KNVB Beker reaches its climax on Sunday as reigning Dutch Champions Feyenoord take on Stanley Menzo’s PSV Eindhoven side who last won the competition back in 2012. Both sides have overcome difficult journeys to the Final and you can catch the big game live on Sky Sports 5, at half past five on Sunday, as the Dutch season begins to come to a close. Here Sky Sports gives you an in depth preview ahead of the showpiece event at De Kuip.

The Form Book

Feyenoord come into this game in flying form, having only lost one game this side of the winter break, against Monaco in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg. In the Eredivisie, Feyenoord are unbeaten all season and are currently on a 41 match unbeaten run in the league, an unbeaten run that is even larger when you consider that they haven’t lost in the KNVB Beker since before their last Eredivisie defeat and thumped Ajax in the Johann Cruijff Schaal at the start of the season. PSV Eindhoven themselves aren’t in bad form, having lost only one of their last five games, although this was a costly defeat against Ajax in their last Eredivisie game which means Stanley Menzo’s side will miss out on the chance to play in the Champions League again next season.

The Road To The Final

Feyenoord’s road to the final began with the visit of amateur side Beursbengels, which saw Feyenoord run out 11-0 winners in Rotterdam. A visit to second tier FC Emmen followed before Feyenoord faced the toughest test of their run in when they beat AZ Alkmaar at De Kuip. Back to back away wins in the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals against Jupiler League sides Achilles ’29 and SC Cambuur are how reached the final after the latter stages.

PSV had a similar route to the final beating GVVV of the Jupiler League in the first round before beating third tier HHC at the Philips Stadion in the second. Another home tie against Willem II followed in the third round before a trip to MVV Maastricht in the Quarter Finals. In the last four of the competition, PSV overcame fellow Eredivisie side FC Twente as they faced more difficult opposition than their opponents in the final on Sunday.

One’s To Watch

In terms of players being in form, Feyenoord look perhaps the most deadly. Sebastien Haller has scored 37 goals in all competitions this season, including 32 in the Eredivisie, whilst Bilal Basacikoglu has scored 8 goals in the KNVB Beker, including 5 in Feyenoord’s first round fixture against amateurs Beursbengels, which Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side won 11-0. PSV also have their share of deadly forwards as Luuk de Jong has scored 30 goals in all competitions including 18 in the Eredivisie, with Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Jurgen Locadia having scored 14 goals a piece too.

Between the sticks and at the back though, Feyenoord have impressed considerably, having conceded only 15 goals in their 33 Eredivisie games this season, and two goals in their KNVB Beker run in. Kenneth Vermeer has been in fine form in goal for Feyenoord, and despite Sven van Beek’s departure to Atletico Madrid, the rise to prominence of Mats Knoester has been a welcome boost for Feyenoord as the youngster looks more than capable of filling van Beek’s boots. Jeroen Zoet, who is being heavily linked with a move to Juventus has kept 23 clean sheets, and is more than capable of putting on a show to keep Feyenoord out on Sunday and with a defence that includes the experience of Ron Vlaar and Hector Moreno, PSV are capable of keeping it tight if needs be.

Injuries And Suspensions

There is some doubt as to whether Kenneth Vermeer will feature after damaging his heel, although the rumours suggest the goalkeeper could take painkilling injections to ensure he starts. Feyenoord will definitely be without Nicolai Jorgensen who strained his knee ligaments and Simon Gustafson who is suffering from knee tendonitis.

PSV go into the game with a clean bill of health.

The Tactical Battle

Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has used a 4-2-3-1 system all season long, putting plenty of emphasis on getting men forward and then making sure that there are enough numbers back in defence when Feyenoord are under pressure. Two wingers bomb forward with the left winger tending to drift inside and provide more of a goal threat, whilst two wing backs provide extra support out wide. The two central midfielders are both capable of going box to box. Feyenoord have possessed a deadly quartet this season for large periods, with Eljero Elia starting on the right, Louis Schaub in the number 10 position and Nicolai Jorgensen playing on the left as van Bronckhorst tries to fit all his attacking talent in the same system.

Stanley Menzo though has used a 4-3-3 formation since his arrival and has masterminded PSV’s run to the final using the formation. Bart Ramselaar is the driving force behind his side with the ability to go box to box whilst Locadia and Jahanbakhsh providing plenty of width and crosses for Luuk de Jong who operates as the lone striker in the system. Jose Enrique and Jonas Svensson have tended to sit either side of Hector Moreno and Ron Vlaar in defence, and have, more often than not, tended to stay deeper in order not to leave Vlaar and Moreno exposed at the back.

The Managers

Giovanni van Bronckhorst is by far the most well known of the two managers, having had an extremely successful playing career, appearing for the likes of Barcelona, Rangers, Arsenal and Feyenoord. He has now gone on to have a successful managerial career so far, lifting the KNVB Beker in 2016 with Feyenoord, before masterminding back to back title wins for his club over the last two seasons.

Stanley Menzo meanwhile, was appointed last April after a successful stint at Ajax Cape Town in South Africa, and Philipp Cocu’s dismissal. He managed to ensure that PSV finished fourth last season after a dreadful campaign under Cocu, and has this season guided PSV to most likely a third place finish, although up until last weekend, PSV were still in the running for a place in the Champions League Third Qualifying Round.

Press Conferences

Feyenoord manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst: ”We’re delighted to be back in with a chance at winning this competition. We fell at the Semi’s last season having won the competition the year before and for us to complete a domestic double on Sunday would be brilliant and be the final mark on what has been a brilliant season for us this year.”
PSV Eindhoven manager, Stanley Menzo: ”For me to come in and win a trophy in my first full season will be a very positive step for this team, and give us a good ground to build on ahead of another long season next year. Of course we want the silverware and the glory associated with Sunday’s final but this game could have much more meaning for me and the team in the long term.”

The Bookies Favourites

Feyenoord are the favourites to win the game according to SkyBet at 6-4, whilst a draw is ranked at 2-1. PSV Eindhoven come in at odds of 13-8.

Comments

Justice: Biggest game of the season….

ScottT: We’ll try not to let you down

Haller has 37 goals this season

Keep hold of him, he could very well become a Feyenoord legend!

Haller is a machine! Hopefully he can carry his momentum over to the cup final.

Fantastic preview, bravo! Haller has been a different class all season so however he can deliver once again in the final.

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29 April 2018

PSV Take KNVB Beker Glory After Shoot Out

PSV Eindhoven have secured their 10th KNVB Beker title today, and their first since 2012, by overcoming Feyenoord 5-3 in a penalty shootout after the game ended 0-0, even after an extra half an hour of extra time was played. The atmosphere at De Kuip was electric as both sides and their fans craved the success, with Feyenoord looking to complete a domestic double and PSV looking to seal silverware in manager Stanley Menzo’s first full season in charge at the Philips Stadion. Both sides named strong sides going into the game, with the most notable inclusion in the starting elevens being Kenneth Vermeer, despite suffering from an ankle injury, as manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst hoped that the goalkeeper could still do a job after taking a painkilling injection.

In the opening exchanges of the tie, it was Feyenoord that looked like taking the lead, as Sebastien Haller rocked the post within the opening minute before, Mats Knoester then hit the same spot on the crossbar with two rocket headers from corners in the fourth and fifth minute. Feyenoord had come out of the blocks and were looking dangerous but PSV rode their luck and stayed secure and level at 0-0 going into half time. Feyenoord continued to be the dominant side, as they have been in most of their Eredivisie fixtures this season, but were unable to break through with Jeroen Zoet making save after save. Feyenoord fans were getting frustrated but this only led to them roaring louder and louder to try and encourage their side to make the breakthrough. Luuk de Jong was the most dangerous man for PSV and did force a good save from Vermeer in the 77th minute, as Kenneth Vermeer was able to just tip the ball around the post.

The game took a turn for the worst for Feyenoord though as Lucas Woudenberg was sent off for a second yellow card with Giovanni van Branckhorst clearly frustrated at the decision to send the left back off. The game headed into extra time level at 0-0 with the nerves beginning to rise around the stadium. During the extra period, Feyenoord changed their tactics to reflect their disadvantage as PSV took the impetus and poured forward in search of a win but they were unable to find it and the game headed into a penalty shoot out. During the shootout it was Jeroen Zoet who turned the hero as he saved Louis Schaub’s penalty, meaning that PSV were able to seal the win with their fifth penalty and restricting Feyenoord to only four as Andres Guardado, Ron Vlaar, Carlos Ponck, Alireza Jahanbakhsh all scored before Jurgen Locadia scored the decisive penalty to seal the trophy for PSV. It was a result that may make Giovanni van Bronckhorst regret the decision to name Vermeer in the starting XI, as the goalkeeper who has kept 20 clean sheets in the Eredivisie this season, appeared to struggle during the shootout.

It was a victory that clearly meant a lot to the PSV players and their manager, as after a difficult season in the Eredivisie, where it didn’t look like European qualification was going to happen at one point, it means that Stanley Menzo can now look back positively on his first full season in charge. For Feyenoord though, it meant their hopes of winning the double ended in disappointment, and their attentions will now turn to gaining some measure of revenge when the sides meet in the final Eredivisie fixture next week.

Reaction

PSV Eindhoven manager, Stanley Menzo: ”We are delighted with this result. Yeah we rode our luck a little bit but we have secured some silverware and that has made this long season worth it. We were up against it for large portions of this game and we’ve done really well to hold our nerve, stay strong at the back and then win the game in the penalty shootout. Jeroen Zoet will take a lot of praise tonight and deservedly so, but this side deserves it for getting the result that we wanted, even if we had to go the distance to secure it.”

Feyenoord manager, Giovanni van Branckhorst: ”We’re devastated that our chances of winning the double have ended like this. We felt we were the better side for the 90 minutes and we should have scored once, maybe twice. Ultimately though, PSV deserve their success and congratulations to them and really, although we have played well and I am proud of my players, we can only really have ourselves to blame tonight.”

Comments

Justice: Yeah he is an absolute goal machine! He has had interest but has never asked for a move or anything along those lines so it seems he is here to stay

De Magere: I hoped he would but it wasnt to be

ScottT: Thanks man unfortunately he didnt :’(

Disappointing not getting the double after such an amazing season...

Heartbreaking! :'( Need not worry, I'm certain you will bounce back!

Gutted for Feyenoord but I'm sure they'll be back next year! Anyway, you crushed the league so

Comments

De Magere: Devastated doesn't even come close

Justice: We will come back stronger than ever next season I can assure you

ScottT: Next year will be our year! And you're right we still have the league title this year!

A fantastic month beside that cup result, hopefully you can close out the season with a win and go unbeaten!

Destroy them.

Damn dude I miss reading this and commenting but I have caught up and still very perfect

Brilliant to at least stay undefeated in the Eredivisie.

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03 May 2018

van Bronckhorst: “Rangers Or Barca My Only Temptations”

Feyenoord have today confirmed that manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has signed a one year contract extension, meaning the manager will extend his stay at De Kuip until June 2020. Having guided Feyenoord to two Eredivisie titles in his first three seasons in charge, signing van Bronckhorst to a new contract was believed to have been one of the key targets for Feyenoord ahead of this summer’s transfer window. With just one game to go in the Eredivisie season, van Bronckhorst’s side look set to end the season unbeaten, representing a huge feat for Feyenoord’s management team and players.

Speaking to Eurosport at the press conference to announce his contract extension, van Bronckhorst said ”I am delighted to have extended my stay here for another season. I am thoroughly enjoying the work here and ahead of another busy summer to be able to confirm my commitment to the team is fantastic and I can’t wait to get started ahead of next season. To be able to go into Sunday’s game against PSV with this news will be a big boost personally and hopefully to the players and hopefully we can end the season unbeaten on Sunday.”

However, the manager, although this wasn’t reported on Feyenoord.nl did also answer a question about his long term future, indicating that perhaps it didn’t lie with Feyenoord. When asked whether there were any clubs that could tempt him away from Feyenoord, van Bronckhorst replied ”Everyone knows how much I love Feyenoord, both from playing here and managing here. My career did see me play elsewhere and there are other jobs I would find it hard to resist. A return to Rangers or the chance to manage at Barcelona would be a dream come true but at the minute they are the only sides that could tempt me to leave Feyenoord.”

Comments

ScottT: Going unbeaten would be a fantastic achievement but only papers over the cracks of the disappointment of losing the cup final!

Justice: Locked and loaded

MJK46: Is good to have you back on board mate

De Magere: Invincibles...almost!