The league title on the line, four goals in all, two late equalisers for the hosts, a controversial penalty in stoppage time, one of the Netherlands’ most famous Klassiekers had enough twists and turns to keep fans bantering all week
Nigeria international Cyriel Dessers has reacted to some of the significant events during Feyenoord’s four-goal thriller against PSV Eindhoven at De Kuip.
Title-chasing PSV were cruising towards a comfortable away victory courtesy of Cody Gakpo’s first-half brace. But Dessers came up with two late goals, including a 96th-minute penalty, to drag Feyenoord to an unlikely 2-2 draw.
The Rotterdammers only returned from France days after booking their Europa Conference League final ticket at Olympique Marseille.
But Dessers insist exhaustion was not why Feyenoord appeared slow and sluggish in the first half of their Klassieker with PSV.
“I don’t like fatigue,” the Nigerian striker told ESPN, as per FcUpdate.
“I think it’s more of a mental thing. It just didn’t work in the first half. We didn’t get pressure on it; we were sloppy on the ball.
“But if you see what we do in the second half, how we get the upper hand and come back.”
By the time Feyenoord’s turnaround began, manager Arne Slot had sent in his five substitutes to freshen up his side.
Dessers admitted they played their part in the remarkable comeback, but he maintains that the whole team had found their natural rhythm and was keen to show that Feyenoord were just as good at the game as PSV and Ajax.
Dessers added: “Of course, they contributed, but I think it is mainly a switch that we turned on after a difficult first half. We can play football; we have also shown that.
“I think we are close to PSV and Ajax in terms of game.”
Dessers only halved the deficit with four minutes of regulation time left, but he revealed, the way the home side was playing, that he felt that goal was only a matter of time.
“I had the feeling for longer. From the sixtieth minute, we started to press and get opportunities.
“Then I thought: it is still possible. We have shown it more often, both at home and away. And here again today. That says something about the team.”
Feyenoord’s equaliser came via a controversial penalty with PSV’s Mauro Júnior handling the ball and Dessers converting expertly for his 100th career goal.
Having watched the incident again, Dessers confesses that it is a cheap call from the referee, but he welcomes a break for Feyenoord, that have been unlucky at other times.
“He (Mauro Júnior, ed.) is trying to get his arm behind his body,” Dessers said.
“Then it is very unfortunate. I think it is light. You can give it, but I think there are also referees who do not give it. But we have been unlucky so many times; now we have a windfall.”
Dessers now has 18 goals in all competitions for Feyenoord, ten of which have come in the Europa Conference League, where he is the tournament’s top scorer.
