Valente admits Inter defeat hits Feyenoord harder than Barcelona loss

Feyenoord captain Luciano Valente conceded that Internazionale were clearly superior after the Italian side earned a comfortable 3-0 Champions League victory at De Kuip. It was Feyenoord’s third defeat of the campaign and their first at home in the competition.

Valente felt Inter’s quality was evident both in their finishing and their ability to play through Feyenoord’s midfield. Speaking to Ziggo Sport after the final whistle, he said the result was “more than deserved”, adding that opponents at Champions League level punish missed opportunities and defensive openings quickly.

Feyenoord had previously suffered a heavier 5-1 defeat against Barcelona, but Valente said this setback felt worse because the Rotterdam side had believed beforehand that a positive result was possible. That expectation was not reflected in the performance, with Inter proving clinical whenever they approached the home goal.

There were mixed emotions for 19-year-old Thijs Kraaijeveld, who made his Champions League debut after being handed an unexpected starting place. Jeremiah St. Juste was injured and Tsuyoshi Watanabe was not fully fit, with Kraaijeveld only learning after the previous day’s training that he would play. He described Inter as mature and ruthlessly effective but said the defeat should not affect Feyenoord’s preparations for Sunday’s away match against SC Heerenveen.