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Robin van Persie insists he is going nowhere despite Feyenoord supporters calling for him to be sacked as their head coach.
There is growing discontent among some of the Dutch giants’ fanbase against Van Persie and that only intensified after they drew 3-3 at relegation-threatened NAC Breda on Sunday. The result sees Feyenoord remain second in the Eredivisie but now trail league leaders PSV by 19 points, while NEC Nijmegen now trail by just three points behind them in the table.
A top-two finish will guarantee Champions League football next season, while a third-place finish will see Feyenoord have to enter the play-offs. However, there is the prospect of Europa League or Europa Conference League football next season with the Dutch giants only five points clear of Twente and Ajax who sit in fourth and fifth.
Ahead of kick-off on Sunday, Feyenoord fans could be heard singing ‘Robin get lost’ during his pre-game interview with ESPN and those sentiments were repeated during the closing stages of the match during the 13 minutes of second-half stoppage time.
Asked about the fan fury post-match, Van Persie acknowledged the fans can sing what they want but he will not ‘run away’ from the job.
‘I’ve heard it. It’s not exactly fun. Everyone is entitled to their opinion,’ the former Arsenal, Manchester United and Netherlands striker said.
Robin van Persie insists he will not quit Feyenoord despite supporters calling him to go
Ahead of and during their draw at NAC Breda, Feyenoord fans chanted ‘Robin get lost’
‘Supporters choose for themselves how they support their club. It’s their right to do so in their own way.’
‘I do my job for Feyenoord. And I do it as best I can. I believe in it all. I believe in myself. I do not run away. I wasn’t as a player. I’m not as a manager.’
During his post-match press conference, the 42-year-old argued with journalists who disagreed with his viewpoint that his side played well despite the draw.
‘Then you saw a different game than I did,’ he said.
‘We did enough to win the match. If you look at this match, I saw a team that fought. That had chances. That scored three beautiful goals.
‘I’ll keep doing what I can to influence the team. I’ll keep working hard. There are a few things we need to improve on.’
In the January transfer window, Van Persie signed Raheem Sterling as a free agent but his arrival to Rotterdam hasn’t gone to plan so far.
He made his full debut on Sunday but was substituted just after the hour-mark. Speaking after the match he revealed that he felt he could have carried on playing but respected Van Persie’s decision.
Raheem Sterling made his full Feyenoord debut on Sunday but was substituted after an hour
‘I felt good enough to continue, but it is the coach’s choice.
‘Every player wants to stay on. You want to stay on the pitch. It is understandable that it is not yet possible. It is another new step in the right direction.
‘We would have liked to win. We have mixed feelings about the performance. It was very inconsistent, but at times also very good. I want to get back to my old level. It was a nice attack from our side. We have to keep working on it and then more will follow.’
