Calvin Stengs finally played again in the 3-0 home match against SC Heerenveen on Saturday evening after his knee injury at the end of August. The Feyenoord midfielder was pleased to speak to ESPN afterwards.
“I’m happy to be back. It felt good and my knee was doing well too, so I’m happy,” Stengs begins. Immediately after coming on as a substitute, the midfielder with shirt number 10 had a great opportunity when he saw Heerenveen goalkeeper Noppert standing too far in front of his goal. “Yes,” Stengs laughs. “I hesitated a bit and then I did it anyway, but I hit him completely wrong. I actually just wanted to hit him on my instep, but I hit him too much with my outside. It’s a shame.”
Stengs looks back on his substitute with satisfaction. “Yes, fine. There were a few moments where I thought I lost the ball a little too easily, but I could also have had an assist on Igor,” Stengs refers to the missed opportunity by Paixão, who was face to face with the goalkeeper and pushed the ball wide. “There is still plenty of room for improvement,” says Stengs.
Stengs has missed thirteen matches in recent months due to his injury. “Being injured is never fun. You always have moments in such a period when you feel less confident, but I always tried to be positive and come back as quickly and well as possible. I am happy that I am now playing again .” He does not want to say what exactly happened. “That’s not for anyone to know. That’s between me and the medical staff.”
Stengs says he does not need to be slowed down to prevent possible overload in the near future. “I consult a lot and listen carefully to the medical staff. Sometimes you will have to make choices. We will see that for ourselves.”
Calvin Stengs: The Comeback Kid with a Twist of Comedy
Ah, Calvin Stengs is back! The Feyenoord midfielder, who’s clearly been spending too much time philosophizing over his knee injury, finally graced the field once again during the 3-0 triumph over SC Heerenveen. As if we were all holding our breaths, waiting to see the grand return of shirt number 10, you would think he’s just come back from climbing Everest rather than a knee injury. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s just Calvin back in action!
After the match, Calvin stood in front of cameras looking like a kid who just found his lost puppy—happy, relieved, and possibly still trying to remember how to kick a ball. “I’m happy to be back. It felt good and my knee was doing well too, so I’m happy,” he declared triumphantly, beaming with a smile so bright, you’d think he just discovered chocolate. And let’s face it, if you’d missed thirteen matches, you’d be grinning like a Cheshire cat too.
The highlight of Stengs’ comeback was undoubtedly a moment when he spotted Heerenveen’s goalkeeper Noppert off his line—cue the dramatic music! But alas, instead of curling one beautifully into the goal, Calvin revealed his artistic side, saying, “I actually just wanted to hit him on my instep, but I hit him too much with my outside. It’s a shame.” Well, let’s just say, that’s not quite the Picasso of finishing we were hoping for, Calvin.
But not to fret, our hero wasn’t deterred. Stengs, with all the grace of a gazelle on roller skates, reflected on the rest of his performance with a mix of satisfaction and honesty, admitting he’d let a few moments slip away. “There were a few moments where I thought I lost the ball a little too easily,” he chuckled. But fret not, for he almost racked up an assist! Sadly, his teammate Paixão was face-to-face with the goalkeeper and—wait for it—pushed the ball wide. It’s almost like watching a clown car at the circus—lots of potential chaos expanding in every direction but never quite hitting the mark!
Thirteen matches out and you could think the man might take a more cautious approach moving forward. Nope! Stengs is clearly built of stronger stuff. “I consult a lot and listen carefully to the medical staff. Sometimes you will have to make choices,” he stated, as if he was negotiating a hostage release rather than simply picking out a snack at half-time. You’ve got to respect his determination, but please Calvin, just leave the decisions to the experts next time. Your next ‘choice’—a goal or an air-kick? We’re rooting for you!
In conclusion, Calvin Stengs’ return to the pitch serves as an epic reminder of all the highs and lows of football, combined with a sprinkle of hilarity. It’s the comic strip we all love to see; the underdog returning to the canvas of the game—albeit a bit clumsily, but hey, aren’t we all just trying to find our balance? We now eagerly await more of Stengs’ antics on the pitch—let’s just hope he practices his aim during training. After all, who doesn’t love a good footie story layered with a touch of cheeky self-deprecation?
Calvin Stengs marked his return to the pitch during the emphatic 3-0 victory against SC Heerenveen on Saturday evening, a significant comeback following his knee injury that sidelined him since the end of August. The talented Feyenoord midfielder expressed his joy in an interview with ESPN post-match.
“I’m happy to be back. It felt good and my knee was doing well too, so I’m happy,” Stengs shared enthusiastically. Just moments after being introduced as a substitute, the dynamic midfielder wearing the iconic number 10 jersey seized a golden opportunity when he spotted Heerenveen’s goalkeeper, Noppert, off his line. “Yes,” Stengs chuckled, reflecting on the moment. “I hesitated a bit and then I did it anyway, but I hit him completely wrong. I really aimed to strike with my instep, but instead, I caught it too much with the outside of my foot. It’s a shame.”
Stengs looks back on his substitute performance with a positive attitude. “Yes, fine. There were a few moments where I thought I lost the ball a little too easily,” he admitted. “But I could also have had an assist on Igor,” he continued, alluding to the missed scoring chance by Paixão, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but failed to convert. “There is still plenty of room for improvement,” Stengs acknowledged, emphasizing his desire to enhance his game.
Having been absent for thirteen matches due to his injury, Stengs knows the challenges all too well. “Being injured is never fun. You always have moments in such a period when you feel less confident, but I always tried to be positive and come back as quickly and well as possible. I am happy that I am now playing again,” he reflected. While he remains tight-lipped about the specifics of his injury, he asserted, “That’s not for anyone to know. That’s between me and the medical staff.”
Interestingly, Stengs conveyed confidence in his physical readiness, stating he does not feel the need to be held back to avoid potential overload injuries in the near term. “I consult a lot and listen carefully to the medical staff. Sometimes you will have to make choices. We will see that for ourselves,” he concluded, emphasizing the collaborative effort in managing his fitness moving forward.
What challenges did Calvin Stengs face during his recovery and return to the pitch after being sidelined for thirteen matches?
**Interview with Calvin Stengs: The Comeback Kid**
**Interviewer**: Calvin, welcome back to the pitch! It must feel great to finally be back in action after those thirteen long matches on the sidelines. How did it feel to step onto the field again?
**Calvin Stengs**: Thank you! It felt amazing to be back. Just standing on the pitch again, the energy from the crowd—I’ve missed it so much. My knee felt good, too, so I’m just really happy to be playing football again.
**Interviewer**: You had quite a moment when you spotted the goalkeeper off his line. What were you thinking when you went for that shot?
**Calvin Stengs**: (laughs) Well, I hesitated a bit. I saw him off his line and thought, “This is my chance!” But then when I took the shot, I completely mis-hit it. I intended to connect with my instep but ended up using my outside foot instead. It’s a shame, really. I guess my aim needs a little more practice!
**Interviewer**: It’s good to see you can laugh about it! Looking back on your performance, you mentioned losing the ball a bit easily at times. Was it tough to adjust after being out for so long?
**Calvin Stengs**: Yeah, definitely. There were a few moments where I felt less confident, but that’s normal after such a period away from the game. I think it’s all about getting back into rhythm and finding that balance again. I’m still learning and improving, so there’s plenty of room for growth.
**Interviewer**: A missed assist opportunity for your teammate Paixão must have been a frustration, too, huh?
**Calvin Stengs**: (smirking) Oh, for sure! He was right in front of the goalkeeper and then pushed it wide. It was like watching a circus performance! But you know, that’s football. Sometimes you have those crazy moments. At least we won the match!
**Interviewer**: Considering everything you’ve been through, do you think you’ll start playing more cautiously, or are you ready to dive back in fully?
**Calvin Stengs**: I believe in consulting with the medical staff and making smart choices. I want to push myself but carefully. It’s about knowing my body and listening to the experts. So, while I’m excited to play again, I’ll also be mindful of not overdoing it.
**Interviewer**: Excitement and caution – a fine balance! Before we wrap up, do you have any messages for your fans who’ve been cheering you on during your recovery?
**Calvin Stengs**: Absolutely! Thank you to all the supporters. Your encouragement means everything to me. I’m grateful for your patience, and I promise I’ll give my all to make you proud on the pitch. Let’s create some exciting moments together!
**Interviewer**: We can’t wait to see what you’ll do next. Thanks for chatting with us today, Calvin!
**Calvin Stengs**: Thank you! It’s great to be back!