Van Persie protest against Inter penalty with Feyenoord

epa11942874 Feyenoord coach Robin van Persie gestures during the UEFA Champions Round of 16 soccer match between Feyenoord and Inter at Feyenoord Stadium de Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 05 March 2025. EPA-EFE/KOEN VAN WEEL

Feyenoord coach Robin van Persie contested the ‘surprising’ penalty awarded to Inter and gives an injury update for the second leg of their Champions tie.

The Nerazzurri emerged 2-0 winners in Rotterdam this evening thanks to goals from Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez either side of half-time.

“We started well and the first half was good, but we put a lot of pressure on them without creating genuinely big chances,” Van Persie told Ziggo Sport.

“Unfortunately, we then conceded on their first opportunity, but you know that can happen with a striker like Thuram. We conceded too early into the second half and it sapped our momentum.”

It could’ve been 3-0, but Timon Wellenreuther kept the tie alive with a great penalty save on Piotr Zielinski.

That was awarded via the VAR On-Field Review when Jeyland Mitchell clipped the back of Thuram’s heel.

“Timon kept us in the game with the save on what by the way was not a penalty,” insisted Van Persie.

“I thought it was a surprising and remarkable decision. The referee and VAR thought it was a penalty, but I don’t think it was. Anyway…”

Penalty to Inter Milan!

📺 Watch the Champions LIVE on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Ush4qWmj2o

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2025

Van Persie looks ahead to Inter vs. Feyenoord

Much like Inter, Feyenoord have been dealing with injuries and had to reshuffle, though this was also a new system in only Van Persie’s second match in charge of the Dutch side.

“My players worked hard. Mitchell hadn’t played 90 minutes for a while, Jakub Moder had been out for some time too, and you could see that with the tempo and pressing dropping in the second half.

“Inter also did very well, but we still had a great possibilità with Moder clipping the crossbar, then a good one-on-one with Ayase Ueda. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side this evening.”

The second leg is at San Siro on Tuesday March 11, and while Givairo Read returns from suspension, Ibrahim Osman will be sitting out a ban after his yellow card.

“That was an unfortunate moment, so we’ll have to put the puzzle together again next week. Antoni Milambo has a small possibilità of returning, but we’ll see over the next few days. Ueda already played today and I have a little hope for Inbeom Hwang,” concluded Van Persie.