Van Persie under siege as furious Feyenoord fans chant “Robin get lost”
Tension is rising around Feyenoord after supporters openly called for Head Coach Robin Van Persie to leave his position during Sunday’s league match.
According to Luke Augustus of the Daily Mail, chants directed at the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker were heard both before kickoff and during Feyenoord’s dramatic 3,3 draw with relegation threatened NAC Breda.
The result leaves Feyenoord second in the Eredivisie standings but trailing league leaders PSV by 19 points, while NEC Nijmegen sit just three points behind them in the race for Champions League qualification.
Fan frustration grows in Rotterdam
Supporters made their dissatisfaction clear before the match even began.
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According to the Daily Mail, chants of “Robin get lost” could be heard during Van Persie’s pre match interview with ESPN. The same chants returned late in the game during a lengthy period of second half stoppage time.
Despite remaining in second place, Feyenoord are facing growing pressure as rivals continue to close the gap in the league table.
A top two finish would secure automatic qualification for the Champions League next season. Finishing third would send Feyenoord into qualification play offs, while teams including Twente and Ajax remain within striking distance.
Van Persie responds to criticism
After the match, Van Persie acknowledged hearing the chants from supporters but insisted he would not walk away from the job.
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“I've heard it. It's not exactly fun. Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” he said.
“Supporters choose for themselves how they support their club. It's their right to do so in their own way.”
“I do my job for Feyenoord. And I do it as best I can. I believe in it all. I believe in myself. I'm not a runaway. I wasn't as a player. I'm not as a manager.”
Van Persie also disagreed with suggestions that his team had performed poorly in the match.
“Then you saw a different game than I did,” he said.
“We did enough to win the match. If you look at this match, I saw a team that fought. That had chances. That scored three beautiful goals.”
“I'll keep doing what I can to influence the team. I'll keep working hard. There are a few things we need to improve on.”
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The match also marked Raheem Sterling’s first full appearance for Feyenoord since joining the club as a free agent during the January transfer window.
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Sterling was substituted shortly after the hour mark, although the winger said afterward that he believed he could have continued playing.
“I felt good enough to continue, but it is the coach's choice,” Sterling said.
“Every player wants to stay on. You want to stay on the pitch. It is understandable that it is not yet possible. It is another new step in the right direction.”
“We would have liked to win. We have mixed feelings about the performance. It was very inconsistent, but at times also very good. I want to get back to my old level. It was a nice attack from our side. We have to keep working on it and then more will follow.”
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Champions League race tightening for Feyenoord
Feyenoord remain second in the Eredivisie but the pressure is growing as the season moves into its decisive weeks.
NEC Nijmegen are only three points behind, while clubs such as Twente and Ajax remain close enough to threaten Feyenoord’s position in the table.
With Champions League qualification at stake, the coming matches could prove crucial for Robin Van Persie and his team as they try to secure a top two finish.
Sources: Daily Mail
