Ofir Marciano, the understudy
Israeli goalkeeper, 32 years old
Usual number 2, the Israeli international has been on the front line since the beginning of March and Justin Bijlow’s foot injury. Proof of the limited confidence shown in him by his leaders, they sought to recruit a joker to the position when they had confirmation that Bijlow would not return by the end of the season. They finally found no better than the Romanian Valentin Cojocaru (who played in Ukraine) and entrusted the goal to Marciano. The latter did not convince. Hesitant in his outings, doubtful regarding his assessments, he made several errors as during the defeat once morest Ajax (2-3, March 20).
Gernot Trauner, le patron
Austrian defender, 30
Recruited last summer from LASK Linz (Austrian D1), the Austrian, then unknown in the Netherlands, who was having his first experience abroad at the age of 30, raised a lot of questions. In the end, he immediately established himself as a basic man in the defense of Feyenoord. Apart from injury, he hasn’t missed a game this season. A real rock. He’s stabilized the backline, with his game-reading key to managing depth and allowing the block to get as high as coach Arne Slot wants.
Orkun Kökçü, la pepite
Turkish midfielder, 21 years old
At 21, this box to box midfielder trained at Feyenoord knows how to do everything (well) to the point of being unstoppable in the midfield for two years. Training number 10, he is as comfortable with recovery as with the ball, as evidenced by his 7 goals and 8 assists this season in the Championship. Dutch international among young people, he was recovered by the Turkish selection – his father’s country – where he already has 14 caps. He is closely followed by several Premier League leaders. Do not stop at his failed back pass once morest Slavia Prague in the quarter-finals return (3-1, first leg: 3-3): he is a safe bet.
Cyriel Dessers, the super sub
Nigerian striker, 27
While Feyenoord’s top scorer this season is Colombian winger Luis Sinisterra (22 goals in all competitions), this Belgian-Nigerian centre-forward is the club’s “Mister Plus” in the Europa League Conference, where he has 8 goals and 2 assists in the last 7 matches. Arrived on loan at the end of the transfer window last summer from Genk, where he had not convinced, he immediately distinguished himself in a role of “super sub”. He is not the most racy nor the most consistent striker, but he is a player by instinct, capable of good things at times (co-top scorer in the Eredivisie in 2019-2020).
