Kraaijeveld savours Champions League debut despite Feyenoord defeat
The young defender fulfilled a childhood ambition against Inter, although the Italian side left De Kuip with a convincing 3-0 victory.
Thijs Kraaijeveld took pride in making his Champions League debut even after Feyenoord suffered a 3-0 home defeat by Inter on Tuesday evening. The young defender started at De Kuip as the Italian side proved too strong for the Rotterdam club.
Kraaijeveld said his selection came as a surprise. He was called in by the coach the previous day and informed that he would start, fulfilling an ambition formed while watching Champions League matches as a child. Despite the result, the occasion remained a significant personal milestone.
His assignment included dealing one-on-one with Inter forward Marcus Thuram. Kraaijeveld acknowledged the Frenchman’s strength but felt he was able to compete in their individual battles. He said Feyenoord did not always feel out of the contest, only for Inter to punish them quickly when opportunities appeared.
The defender identified Inter’s speed in transition as a major problem for Feyenoord, though he did not want to offer a detailed assessment of the goals before reviewing the footage. His overriding reaction to his own debut was nevertheless positive. “I enjoyed it, so on to more,” Kraaijeveld told Ziggo Sport, as reported by Voetbalzone.
Reported first by
This English write-up is our own summary of the reporting above. Full details remain with the original publishers — please read them at the source.