Van Persie Aims High as Feyenoord Battles for Third Place

Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie is targeting a Champions League spot as his team prepares to face FC Groningen, with a win potentially propelling them into third place.

Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie expressed his enthusiasm for building a strong team and culture at the Dutch club. Since taking the helm on February 23rd, van Persie has been focused on revitalizing the team's fortunes after a string of underwhelming results led to the dismissal of former boss Brian Priske.

Van Persie emphasized that he is “not in a hurry” as he works to implement his vision at Feyenoord. The former Premier League star is taking a measured approach to rebuilding the team, indicating that he is prioritizing long-term success over immediate results.

After a sluggish start, Robin van Persie has begun to make his mark at Feyenoord. The 41-year-old manager, who joined the club from Heerenveen, initially failed to secure a win in his first three games. However, he has since turned things around, leading Feyenoord to consecutive victories over FC Twente (6-2) and Go Ahead Eagles (3-2), who are currently sixth and seventh in the league, respectively.

Van Persie has appealed for understanding and patience as he navigates his new role as Feyenoord's third manager this season, following in the footsteps of Brian Priske and caretaker manager Pascal Bosschaart. In an interview with Feyenoord One, the club's channel, Van Persie emphasized the importance of time and mutual understanding. “You have to take that on board as well. Understanding is an important word, back and forth. And time is also important,” he explained. Van Persie also reiterated that he is not feeling pressured to rush the process, stating, “It also takes some time to get used to each other. I'm not in a hurry either.”

Van Persie expressed his enthusiasm for the progress being made at Feyenoord, highlighting the incremental steps the team is taking towards improvement. “Every day, we make one step at a different part. We do that based on meetings, based on practice, based on the games. And that's how we build slowly,” he noted. The Feyenoord manager also praised his players, saying, “I really enjoy my players. I enjoy their commitment and their qualities. We are getting a little bit better every day.”

Feyenoord is currently fourth in the league, trailing third-placed FC Utrecht by two points, but with a game in hand. A win against FC Groningen on Wednesday night could propel Feyenoord into third place, overtaking Utrecht and applying pressure on second-placed PSV, who would then be five points ahead.

Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie is wary of the challenge posed by FC Groningen, who have lost only once in their last six games and have risen up the league table as a result. Van Persie praised FC Groningen's defensive solidity and counter-attacking ability, acknowledging the difficulty of the upcoming match. "

“They have only lost once in the last six games and have climbed up the league table quite nicely as a result. They don't concede many goals and can counter well.”

Champions League Ambitions Remain Clear

Van Persie's objective for Feyenoord, the club where he scored 46 goals as a player, remains clear: securing a Champions League spot. The most realistic path to achieving this goal is through a third-place finish in the league. Van Persie emphasized the importance of Champions League qualification for the club, stating, “We would like to get into the Champions League. Most realistically, we have to do that via third place. But the Champions League is very important for our club.”

📊 Igor’s 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐬

vs. FC Twente ⚽⚽⚽🅰️🅰️
vs. Go Ahead Eagles ⚽
vs. FC Groningen ⚽⚽ pic.twitter.com/ZZKmUfo77b

— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) April 2, 2025