TIRANA--Feyenoord Rotterdam’s captain Justin Bijlow said they missed the chance to put the Dutch football club back on the map after their first appearance in a European final in 20 years ended in deep disappointment as they lost having dominated against AS Roma on Wednesday, May 25.
The Dutch club, who won the UEFA Cup in 2002, were beaten 1-0 in the inaugural Europa Conference League final as a defensive slip allowed Nicolo Zaniolo to snatch a 32nd-minute winner.
“This is terrible. We really wanted to take the cup with us, to thank the supporters and to put Feyenoord back on the map. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out like that,” said goalkeeper Bijlow.
Defender Gernot Trauner missed a cross from Gianluca Mancini into the Feyenoord box, allowing Nicolo Zaniolo behind him to score from close range.
“We did almost everything right for 19 games and now one mistake saw us punished. That hurts a lot,” said striker Cyriel Dessers. “At times we played near perfectly. We can hardly blame ourselves.”
Feyenoord hit the woodwork twice and forced Roma into a stout defensive display after halftime. “They were ruthless. Even when the ball wasn’t close, I was getting elbows,” Dessers said.
Bijlow said Feyenoord applied plenty of pressure and caused Roma difficulties. “You saw they had trouble dealing with us. But unfortunately, it wasn’t good enough. It’s a bit of cliché, but it was 20 years ago that we last played in a European final … It’s especially terrible that we can’t take the cup to Rotterdam.
Coach Arne Slot tried to soften the blow for his players after the match. “I told them I couldn’t take the disappointment away from them, but I also said that it was a privilege to work with this team every day this season,” he said. “There hasn’t been a day that we haven’t enjoyed being on the training field together.”
Slot was able to welcome back goalkeeper Bijlow to his starting 11 as Feyenoord went looking for their first major European trophy since 2002. They came up against Jose Mourinho and former Feyenoord star Rick Karsdorp, who started for AS Roma.
It was not a fast start by the Rotterdam side, who struggled to create any openings in the early stages. Roma also didn’t threaten but with their first shot they scored after half an hour. Zaniolo controlled a long ball and slotted the ball past Bijlow.
Early in the second half, Feyenoord came close to the equaliser with Trauner hitting the woodwork, while Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio denied Guus Til. Tyrell Malacia then had a fierce shot tipped onto the post by Patricio.
Roma looked rocky but Feyenoord could not take advantage and they were lucky that Marcos Senesi wasn’t punished for pulling back Tammy Abraham, who looked set to bare down on goal.
Slot tried to change the game with Jens Toornstra and Bryan Linssen coming on the pitch, but Feyenoord failed to launch a late offensive. Bijlow kept his side in the game and in stoppage time, Linssen almost connected with a header from Dessers, but the ball went out of play.
Roma held on and claimed the first Europa Conference League title. Feyenoord will be proud of an excellent European campaign but they head back to Rotterdam without the trophy.
