<strong>Arne Slot anticipates tough challenge against Heerenveen ahead of KNVB Cup clash</strong> | OneFootball

Arne Slot does not yet see a setback at Feyenoord, although the club, which is still fighting on three fronts, is starting to feel the pinch of a congested fixture list, AD reports.

He is “very pleased” with the way his football players live from match to match, Feyenoord reports on its own website.

“I expect my players to have the same energy tomorrow as in recent weeks,” he said.

In Heerenveen goalkeeper Justin Bijlow plus midfielders Quinten Timber, Sebastian Szymanski and Patrik Walemark are still missing with injuries but Slot is not too concerned about that.

He does, however, expect Heerenveen to be motivated ahead of their cup clash as they look for a positive response from their 4-1 drubbing at home to RKC Waalwijk,.

According to Slot, that result at the weekend gave a distorted picture to what he sees as a formidable side.

“The selection of Heerenveen has undergone a number of changes during the winter break and now you see that the team is getting better attuned to each other. It is again a formidable opponent for us, especially because they have already made it very difficult for us twice this season.”

It has been a largely successful season for Feyenoord so far as they remain top of the Eredivisie table, favourites to progress through to the semi-finals of the cup and have a Europa League round of 16 clash next week too.

GBeNeFN | Tom Phillips