Former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has firmly rejected suggestions that his position as Feyenoord head coach is under threat, despite the Dutch club's alarming dip in form continuing with a heavy defeat to league leaders PSV Eindhoven.
Van Persie's defiant stance amid mounting pressure
The 40-year-old, who took on his first major managerial role at Feyenoord last February after joining from Heerenveen, has faced increasing scrutiny following a disappointing run of results. His side's 3-0 loss to PSV on Sunday left them a staggering 17 points adrift of the runaway Eredivisie leaders, intensifying questions about his future at the helm.
Despite Feyenoord currently occupying second place in the table, their recent league form has been concerning, with just one victory in their last six matches. This poor domestic run has been compounded by their elimination from the Europa League, where they managed only two wins from eight matches in the league phase.
"I feel responsible" says under-fire manager
When questioned about his position following the PSV defeat, Van Persie reportedly insisted he would not resign and expressed confidence in turning around the club's fortunes. Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the former Netherlands international acknowledged his disappointment while accepting responsibility for the team's performance.
"You'll have to ask the club management," Van Persie responded when asked about the hierarchy's view of his position, before adding: "I'm disappointed, I feel responsible, and I literally am, of course. What I saw today against PSV is very disappointing. At the same time, we played against a very good team. But overall, it was bad on my part, and it was bad on our part."
Captain Wellenreuther defends under-pressure boss
Van Persie received public backing from Feyenoord captain Timon Wellenreuther, who shifted blame from the coaching staff to the players themselves. The goalkeeper stressed that the squad had failed to execute their head coach's tactical plan against PSV, while also pointing to the club's extensive injury list as a mitigating factor in their recent struggles.
"We're not a top team right now," Wellenreuther admitted. "We've had a lot of injuries and still have them, but that's no excuse now. You saw that PSV is a top team; we really need to do much better."
The captain was unequivocal in his assessment of where responsibility lay for the PSV defeat: "It was really our fault against PSV. We, the players on the pitch, failed. The coach had a great plan, but you can't see that if you don't win a single duel, don't follow your man, and don't execute what the coach says. The real problem was on the pitch itself. If we as players don't fight hard enough, it's not the coach's fault."
Personal concerns amid professional pressures
Van Persie's professional challenges have been accompanied by personal worries in recent weeks, after his 19-year-old son Shaqueel was stretchered off during Feyenoord's Europa League defeat to Real Betis. The emotional scene saw the manager kneeling to comfort his son as medical staff attended to him, just days after Shaqueel had scored his first professional goals.
Initial fears about a serious knee injury were alleviated over the weekend when club medical staff confirmed surgery would not be necessary. A Feyenoord statement revealed: "Shaqueel van Persie's injury has undergone further medical examination. The medical findings are positive and indicate that surgery is not necessary. The rehabilitation process has already begun, and it is realistic that he will still be able to play some playing time this season."
Expectations versus reality at De Kuip
The current situation represents a significant setback for Feyenoord, who finished third last season under Van Persie's guidance. Expectations had been raised that the Rotterdam club would mount a more serious challenge to PSV's dominance this campaign, but instead they find themselves increasingly detached from the title race.
As Van Persie attempts to navigate both personal family concerns and professional pressures at one of the Netherlands' most prestigious clubs, the coming weeks will prove crucial in determining whether he can reverse Feyenoord's fortunes and silence the growing doubts about his managerial capabilities.
