Feyenoord is in crisis on the pitch, and off the pitch, sparks are flying between Quinten Timber, who was recently stripped of his captaincy, and coach Robin van Persie. The signs point to a split in the winter—the national team player may be headed to the south of France.
Only three wins from 14 competitive games, six consecutive games without a win and the lost city derby against Sparta Rotterdam: the mood at Feyenoord has been much better. But it’s not just on the pitch that the traditional club is making headlines: Feyenoord coach Robin van Persie recently stripped midfielder Quinten Timber of the captain’s armband and gave it to Sem Steijn. The reason? The Dutch international had not yet extended his expiring contract – and now he certainly won’t be doing so.
In the 3-4 derby defeat, the former international took the 24-year-old out of the starting lineup and publicly justified this by citing Timber’s lack of attitude. Timber responded after the game with harsh words: “It’s like a play that people are now saying I’m not doing anything,” he explained. “There is no doubt that I give my best and am not negligent in training.”
Van Persie hit back verbally: “I judge players on the basis of training sessions and matches. If I see that someone does not consistently have the right attitude in training sessions and matches, then I opt for players who do have that attitude. In that respect, I have been dissatisfied with Quinten for quite some time.“
Van Persie did bring on the eight-time international in the 72nd minute against Sparta. However, according to his post-match comments, the game could have been Timber’s last in the jersey of his youth club. At least his coach does not believe there is a way out of the impasse: ”Are you asking me personally? Then I’d say no. I don’t decide that alone, but I don’t think there’s any way back.”
Timber’s departure to Marseille?
An early departure in the winter, when Feyenoord could collect a transfer fee for the twin brother of Arsenal’s Jurrien for the last time, is the most obvious solution. According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Timber has already reached an agreement with Olympique Marseille. Van Persie: “If, for whatever reason, you don’t perform well over a longer period of time, there will be consequences. It’s very likely that a solution will be found.”
According to Timber, he is not the only one who has a bad relationship with the coach. He disagrees: “I believe that the players’ trust in me is fine. Of course, not all players are equally happy. I certainly have no illusions that I have 25 players who go home happy every day. I also know how it works,” said van Persie, referring to his playing career. “But it’s quite simple. I judge players based on what they show. And in doing so, I choose others over Quinten.”
He will probably no longer be in the squad for Thursday’s Europa League match against Sturm Graz. Qualification for the playoffs is already difficult for the struggling Rotterdam team. With three points from six games, they are in 30th place.
