After 20 years, Feyenoord can play another European final. They qualified yesterday at the expense of Marseille and will face AS Roma in the Conference League final. Johan Boskamp is happy that “his” Feyenoord is participating again for the prizes. “I don’t care what others say about this competition.”
Feyenoord’s European adventure started 10 months ago. In July, they played their first matches in the Conference League qualifying rounds.
“I remember when they played really bad,” Boskamp says. “They took on Kosovar Drita and needed a goal in the 90th minute to push through.”
“After that, they really grew in the tournament. They finished first in the group stage and effortlessly passed Partizan and Slavia Prague towards the semi-finals. It is quite an achievement that Feyenoord is in the final. I would never have believed it in July. “
Cyriel Dessers went to Rotterdam on the last day of the transfer period. Thanks to a lot of important goals, he became a true crowd favorite.
“Dessers is the chouchou of the supporters profession. He really fought his way into the team with his goals as a substitute. As a striker you are judged on your goals and he just kept making them. Then you are a good striker. His transfer fee is “but “4 million euros, so I wouldn’t hesitate.”
I don’t think UEFA expected it to be a final with such big clubs.
On May 25, Feyenoord will play the final against AS Roma in the Arena Kombëtare, in the Albanian capital Tirana. The stadium can only accommodate 22,500 spectators. De Kuip and the Stadio Olimpico have 51,000 and 70,000 seats respectively.
Boskamp: “I think UEFA did not expect it to be a final with such big clubs. They underestimated that. I think more than 30,000 Feyenoord supporters will go to Albania. I immediately called for tickets this morning. . I don’t want to miss it.”
“After 20 years of waiting, it just feels good”, Boskamp concludes. “I don’t care what others say about this competition. All I care about is that we play the final.”
