Robin van Persie job under threat

Feyenoord head into the winter break sitting second in the Eredivisie, but it is not a position that reflects the mood around De Kuip right now.

The gap to PSV has grown into something that feels significant, and the performances have started to look heavier with each passing week.

Unfortunately this is especially felt at home where the expectation is to control games rather than cling on.

That tension has only sharpened after a frustrating run of results in December, with defeats piling up across competitions and the atmosphere turning increasingly edgy when things start to go against them.

That sense of drift continued on Sunday as Feyenoord were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Twente in Rotterdam, dropping points again when a response was badly needed.

Twente were the better side for long spells, taking the lead in the 19th minute through Daan Rots after a first half where Feyenoord offered very little threat, while Sam Lammers missed chances to put the visitors out of sight.

Twente managed 14 efforts on goal in the first half alone, described as a record number for Feyenoord to face in an Eredivisie home game since at least the 2010/11 season, which sums up how open the hosts looked before the break.

Feyenoord did improve after half-time and found an equaliser 15 minutes from full time through Gonçalo Borges, who finished brilliantly with the outside of his boot.

However, any momentum they built quickly shifted again when Luciano Valente was sent off for a second yellow card a minute later.

The draw followed a damaging cup exit in midweek, where Robin van Persie climbed over the advertising boards after Feyenoord were dumped out of the KNVB Cup at home to Heerenveen by a stoppage-time winner, confronting furious supporters as the frustration spilled over.

Robin van Persie admitted afterwards the performance was “painful” and “not good enough”, taking responsibility for the slump and insisting he will do everything he can to turn it around.

However, despite the performances of late, van Persie still has support from former Dutch internationals.

Speaking about the risk of Robin van Persie losing his job to Ziggo Sports, as reported by SoccerNews, Ruud Gullit commented: “I have a warm heart for Feyenoord, you want the club to do well.”

He continued: “I think Van Persie will be fine and that he needs a moment to catch his breath. He has to find his way and he has to be given the time to do so. When you hear some people, they are just sawing.”

Echoing his feelings, Marco van Basten added: “I am also someone who protects Van Persie, but it must also remain fair.”

He continued: “Someone who has little football background can also be a good coach. But Robin is not doing badly, maybe that’s how many people think so.

“In the beginning it went very well, but it is also a very complicated profession. You have to keep it up, at some point you get more feeling and routine for the profession.”

With the league now paused, Feyenoord have a rare chance to reset, but the bigger question is whether a reset is enough to change the direction, or whether the scrutiny around van Persie will only intensify once the season resumes.