Thijs Kraaijeveld will start in Feyenoord's defence alongside Mika Mármol for their Champions League match against Inter at De Kuip, replacing Tsuyoshi Watanabe.
Coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst explained the change was precautionary. "Watanabe had started to feel some discomfort towards the end of the match," Van Bronckhorst said. "So it's a physical issue. We've also already lost Jerry St. Juste, so we didn't want to take any risks." Watanabe is available on the bench.
Van Bronckhorst described Kraaijeveld's appearance as "a great opportunity for him to play in the Champions League today" and said it was "fantastic for him, and for the club, to play on this stage against a very good team."
Ahead of the match, Van Bronckhorst expressed confidence that Feyenoord could trouble Inter at home. "There's always a chance, especially when we're playing at home," he told Ziggo Sport. "I think we've always achieved good results against big opponents in recent years. We can do that tonight too, but everything has to be right."
He warned, however, that Inter's attacking transitions presented a serious threat. "You feel like you're doing well in the match. Sometimes they give you that feeling too, which leaves you too open when they break," Van Bronckhorst said. He also highlighted Inter's defensive solidity and experience, but noted that the Italian side "do give away chances."
Source: goal.com
