Former Ukraine midfielder Yevhen Levchenko, who has been living and working in the Netherlands for a long time, has told us what he thinks about the encounter between local Feyenoord and Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 16 of the Europa League.
-On 9 March, Shakhtar Donetsk will take on Feyenoord from Rotterdam in the Europa League in Warsaw. What is the club that currently tops the Eredivisie table?
- All football people know that Feyenoord are, historically, among the top three clubs in the Dutch championship. Along with Ajax and PSV, the team from Rotterdam is a trendsetter in local football. As for today, I believe that Feyenoord have developed the right way as a club. Two years ago, the club management invited local specialist Arne Slot, who successfully coached AZ, to be the head coach. It was this 44-year-old specialist who created the current squad that leads the Eredivisie.
If we take a closer look at Feyenoord's squad, we won't see any very well-known players there. Out of, let's say, the newcomers, he has created a decent squad. In the autumn, Feyenoord won their Europa League group, where they played Italy's Lazio, for example. On March 1 the team from Rotterdam beat Heerenveen away in the Dutch Cup, where they have already qualified for the semifinals. The team have an impressive series of matches without defeat.
- What scheme is Feyenoord playing under and who are the team's leaders?
- The coaching staff headed by Arne Sloot prefers to use the 4-2-3-1 formation. It is a very balanced team.
Interestingly, Feyenoord do not score much, which is not characteristic of the local leaders. In defence, the clear leader is Gernot Trauner. He is 30 years old and of Austrian origin. The fans call him the general. Trauner is not the quickest footballer, but he is very skilful in choosing his position on the pitch. In midfield, Orkun Kekcu, the team captain, stands out. The Turkish midfielder is just 22. Playing as a central midfielder, he is the link between defence and attack.
Offensively, I am very fond of Santiago Jimenez, the Mexican attacker. He is only 21, but he is already an established master, who often decides the outcome of this or that game. In the cup game against Heerenveen everything was decided by his accurate shot at the end of the game. And yet, in my opinion, the actions of Feyenoord's defenders are not always reliable. Passes behind defenders, not very correct actions of the players between the lines, not make the game in the defence of the team from Rotterdam exemplary.
- What is your opinion of the team's head coach Arne Slota?
- He is a fairly young, progressive specialist. I know him personally for many years. We used to attend the coaching courses together. Sloth prefers collective football. So did AZ when he worked there, so does Feyenoord now.
Almost all football experts in the Netherlands say that Slot wants his charges to be able to play total football. He squeezes absolutely everything out of his charges, literally the maximum. It is not for nothing that Shakhtar's future opponents in the Europa League hold the top spot in their league.
- By the way, there is an opinion that only due to the declines of Ajax and PSV, Feyenoord occupy the first place. Do you share this view?
- This is a very interesting question. In the Netherlands there have been discussions and expert speeches on the subject for a long time now. Of course, the start of Ajax in this championship was very bad, the team lost a lot of points. Only a month ago, Ajax were led by their pupil John Heitinga, and he immediately threw himself into chasing Feyenoord. So far, he's been doing well. Plus Ajax, as always, have sold players to top teams in Europe at a profit. Lysandro Martinez and Antoni transferred to Manchester United in the summer.
Another big name, PSV, does not play the way everyone expects them to. As it happens, Feyenoord are playing smoothly, without failures, which is why they are leading the national championship. With 11 rounds to go before the end of the season, the team from Rotterdam is 3 points ahead of Ajax, 5 points ahead of AZ and 6 points ahead of PSV. So, nothing is yet clear here. One or two defeats and the gap will melt away.
- Shakhtar and Feyenoord will play on March 9 and 16, and on March 19 Ajax will take on Feyenoord in the Dutch league. What is more important for Arne Slota's charges - European Cups now or the championship and the chance to play in the Champions League group in autumn?
- Both. Europa League is a very important tournament. A year ago, Feyenoord played in the Conference League final against Roma. And for the championship, the Feyenoord fans will carry their players in their arms. Everybody in Rotterdam wants to break Ajax's hegemony.
Plus, first place will bring big money, and not only from UEFA. There is a lot of money in Rotterdam, there are well-known companies. They do not always want to invest money in the football team, but a possible championship will change everything. And in recent years there has been a lot of talk that they want to build an ultra-modern arena instead of the old De Kuijp stadium. Feyenoord really needs the money from the Champions League to develop the club and build the stadium.
Another thing I would like to mention is that we, together with the players' union, choose the best football pitch in football stadiums every year. And in the previous 10 years the emerald pitch at De Kuijp Stadium was chosen as the best football pitch. The pitch is of perfect quality, and Shakhtar's players will be delighted to play on it.
- Feyenoord have some of the best fans in the country...
- Yes, although visually it is difficult to say that they are more powerful than Ajax, but they are very loyal. The team from Rotterdam has tremendous support not only at home games, but also in away matches.
The Feyenoord fans are very brutal and use a lot of pyrotechnics. They will go anywhere for their favourites. I know that there will be a lot of them in Warsaw, at the first match. The fan movement is very developed in the Netherlands.
- Will you be present at the return game?
- Of course, I will. On 16 March, I will be rooting for Shakhtar from the stands of the De Kuijp stadium.
- Who, according to you, is favourite to face Shakhtar vs Feyenoord?
- If Brazilians had formed Shakhtar's backbone, as it used to be, the Pitmen would have been favourites. This is not to belittle the merits of the Ukrainian players. Now, I think the chances are 50/50. I think Shakhtar were lucky with the recent draw. Just recently I talked to the Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot and told him that I'll be rooting for Shakhtar. But my son often wears a Feyenoord shirt (laughs) .