Things were bad enough for Robin van Persie with Feyenoord’s latest defeat, and then it got even worse.
The Eredivisie giants lost 4-3 to neighbours Sparta Rotterdam in the league to make it eight defeats and just two wins in 12 games.
Van Persie is already under pressure for his tactics, but now his man management is being called into question.
Feyenoord are already on their third captain of the season which started with star player Quinten Timber losing the armband.
The Dutch international won’t be renewing his contract in his final season, something Van Persie deemed too much of a distraction with the fans demanding he either leaves in January for a fee or re-signs.
However, according to Timber, the coach overstepped the mark when explaining why he was left out for the Rotterdam derby.
Van Persie denied it was over transfer rumours and that there was ‘plenty of room to improve’ for Timber in training.
Responding post-match, the Arsenal-linked midfielder said: “I think it’s a shame what the coach said, that it happened this way.
“It’s happened a few times now that the coach doesn’t protect the player. You can have an opinion, but say it to my face. This was the limit.
“Everyone at the club knows I give everything in the match, and I did that today. If I have to play at right back, I do it for my team.
“You can put any player in front of the camera and they’ll say the same thing.
“It feels like a charade. It’s like I’m doing nothing. There’s a lot going on, a lot of emotion involved, including the fans who aren’t happy with me. That’s never fun.”
On a departure, Timber added: “I’ve always said: I want the best outcome for both of us. I don’t want to leave the club for free. That makes it more likely I’ll leave now.
“It’s always been my intention not to leave the club with nothing. I want to get out.
“But let’s not pretend I’m not working or doing nothing; everyone at the club knows it’s different.
“I find it disappointing that it’s being said like this; it’s not the first time. I let it go once, let it go twice, but this time I’m standing up for myself.”
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