As early as Portugal, Van Persie indicated that he did not share Steijn’s vision. A day later, De Telegraaf reported that “talk sessions” would take place at Feyenoord. But that is nonsense, Van Persie claimed ahead of the away game with FC Groningen.
“I have read that there have been talk sessions. That eluded me,” Van Persie said cynically. “That’s not the truth. Around every match I speak to players, and I have spoken to Sem as well. But that’s not a ‘talk session.’ That’s how it was described.”
Van Persie did reiterate that he would have liked Steijn to have expressed himself differently. “I could follow the content of Sem’s message to a certain extent, because we have indeed made wrong choices,” the former striker explained.
“It’s just that we didn’t only make wrong choices on the ball. We didn’t put enough in without the ball either. That connection was not optimal. As a coach, I prefer him to name that rather than use that word (selfishness, ed.).”
Besides Steijn’s interview, the press conference towards FC Groningen away was mainly about Van Persie’s lineup in the lost game with SC Braga. He flipped his lineup and left Ayase Ueda, Givairo Read and Leo Sauer in Rotterdam.
“I thought it was a good time to start some players in the starting lineup for the first time,” Van Persie said. “Everyone knows how that went, but in the end I stand by that.”
“I do find it funny that we talked almost every press conference about when players would get the chance now. Everyone has passed. Then they play once and it’s not good again. I find that funny. If I say A, you say B. If I say B, you say A.”
Van Persie can call on an almost fit squad on Sunday against FC Groningen (kickoff 2:30 p.m.). Only Gernot Trauner, Jakub Moder and Thomas Beelen are unavailable.
