Feyenoord Captain Sem Steijn Blasts Teammates After Braga Loss

Sem Steijn criticizes Feyenoord's selfish play in Europa League defeat

Feyenoord captain Sem Steijn expresses frustration with teammates' selfish play after 1-0 loss to SC Braga in the Europa League.

“What I saw was that on the occasions when we made runs – and that did not happen often enough...”

Feyenoord captain Sem Steijn lashed out at his teammates after their 1-0 loss to SC Braga in the Europa League, describing them as “selfish.” Steijn's frustration stemmed from the team's lackluster performance, which saw them take only five shots and fail to create a single significant scoring opportunity.

Steijn attributed the loss to his teammates' individualistic play, stating that everyone was playing for themselves instead of working together. He emphasized the need for better teamwork, quicker passing, and serving the strikers to create scoring chances. Steijn's criticism was directed at the team's midfielders, who he felt weren't providing adequate support to the forwards.

Coach Robin van Persie disagreed with Steijn's choice of words, suggesting that the issue wasn't selfishness but rather the team making different choices on the field. Van Persie also pointed out that the team's attackers weren't making enough runs to create space. Meanwhile, player Luciano Valente shared a similar sentiment, stating that the team simply had a sloppy game and didn't provide each other with options.

Despite the loss, Steijn remains adamant that his team can improve and respond to the criticism. He highlighted the importance of hard work, competing, and giving each other opportunities on the field. Steijn sees the upcoming match against FC Groningen as a chance for his team to bounce back and show better teamwork.

“It was just a very bad game from us, with too little energy. We couldn't capitalise on the chances we got, everyone was selfish, and then you end up with a defeat like that.”

Sem Steijn is woest 😳
‘Dit krijg je als je allemaal egoïstisch bent!’ 💭#ZiggoSport #UEL #BRAFEY

— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) September 24, 2025

When asked about his comments on players being “selfish,” Ajax coach Maurice Steijn explained, “Everyone is playing for themselves, and I think we need to pass the ball much faster.” This highlights the need for improved teamwork and ball circulation on the pitch.

Steijn's remarks suggest that Ajax needs to work on their passing dynamics to overcome individualistic play and achieve better results. By emphasizing the importance of quicker ball movement, Steijn aims to enhance the team's overall performance and cohesion.

Steijn's comments underscore the importance of teamwork and strategy in achieving success on the pitch. By focusing on faster passing and more cohesive play, Ajax can improve their chances of winning and dominating matches.

“We need to serve the strikers, and serve me. We can't just shoot the ball at the goal. We must work together to achieve results. That starts with working hard, competing, giving each other opportunities and doing it together. That wasn't there today.”

Feyenoord captain Sem Steijn's frustration stemmed from his teammates' failure to pass the ball to him, leaving him isolated and unable to create scoring opportunities. He attributed this to a lack of cohesion and selfish play, where individual players prioritized their own actions over teamwork.

Steijn wasn't sure where the selfishness and low energy levels came from, but he emphasized the need for better teamwork and quicker passing to create scoring chances. He believes that improving these aspects will help the team perform better and achieve their goals.

“That's frustration because I'm open. You see with Casper (Tengstedt) and Cyle (Larin) that making the run in behind the defence makes you dangerous. We had one offside goal, and the other time we hit the post”

Van Persie's Insight

Manager Robin van Persie attributed Feyenoord's struggles to the midfielders' inability to provide the right passes, rather than selfishness. According to Van Persie, this lack of effective passing was a key factor in the team's disappointing performance, and he believes it's an area that needs improvement. He didn't think the team's issues were due to selfishness, but rather poor decision-making on the field.

“What I saw was that on the occasions when we made runs – and that did not happen often enough – the ball did not come from the second line, from midfield.”

Robin van Persie disagreed with Feyenoord captain Sem Steijn's assessment of the team's performance after their 1-0 loss to Sporting Braga. Steijn had criticized his teammates, saying they played selfishly and lacked energy. Van Persie said, “I don't think Sem's choice of words is very appropriate in this case.” He believes the issue wasn't selfishness, but rather poor decision-making and a lack of effective passing.

Van Persie emphasized that Feyenoord's struggles stemmed from tactical errors, such as not playing vertically enough and failing to provide adequate support to the strikers. He stated, “It has nothing to do with egoism, but with the choices we make with the ball.”

The disagreement highlights a potential rift between Steijn and Van Persie, with Steijn pushing for more direct play and Van Persie focusing on tactical nuances. Steijn's comments were seen as a call for more teamwork and urgency, while Van Persie's response aimed to nuance the criticism and emphasize the need for better strategy on the field.

“I don't understand why he chose that word at all, because it implies that you are making a different choice. I understand that he wants to have the ball, but that has nothing to do with selfishness. It has to do with the choices we make when we have the ball.”

Aanvoerder Sem Steijn gefrustreerd door 'egoïstisch' spel Feyenoord 😤#BRAFEY pic.twitter.com/hbOoz8m8mP

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) September 24, 2025