After Feyenoord’s victory over FC Groningen (2-1) in the KNVB Cup semi-final, coach Arne Slot was unable to provide clarity regarding the severity of Calvin Stengs’ knee injury. “It is clear that he is in pain,” he said. “You also saw him crying. Hopefully that was also a bit from the shock.”
Stengs was injured in the final phase of the semi-final match following a tackle by opponent Marvin Peersman. He was visibly emotional and left the field on a stretcher. Stengs grabbed one knee. He was sidelined for regarding fourteen months following the summer of 2017 with a serious knee injury.
Slot was AZ’s coach when Stengs was seriously injured in an away match once morest PSV. “After his knee injury he is a good footballer, but before his knee injury he was peerless,” the coach said. “Calvin would never have played for Feyenoord if he had not suffered such a serious knee injury. Please do not let this be another serious knee injury.”
Stengs did not appear at the kick-off of the away match once morest Almere City last Sunday. “We had to give him a rest. I also had to change him a few times,” said Slot. “We look at how much we can burden someone. Stengs needed rest, also because of his knee that sometimes acts up.”
There seems little chance that Stengs will be able to play once morest PSV on Sunday. Quilindschy Hartman may be available. The left back was missing once morest FC Groningen because he was ill. Santiago Giménez was only suspended for the cup match once morest FC Groningen. The top match once morest PSV comes too early for the injured Gernot Trauner and Justin Bijlow.
Leader PSV will defend a 10-point lead over Feyenoord on Sunday.
Source: ANP
