Pascal Bosschaart praised the mentality of Feyenoord while his players responded to a turbulent period with a memorable Champions League upset by AC Milan.
Feyenoord qualified for the first time in their history for the last 16 phase of the competition after Tuesday's 1-1 draw in San Siro, provided a 2-1 total victory.
Their former forward Santiago Gimenez brought the draw for Milan-Die the first stage with 1-0 after only one minute, but the second half of Julian Carranza sent the visitors.
Brian Priske was dismissed only two days before the opening meeting in the play-off draw, although Interim boss Bosschaart says that this result was a perfect response to criticism.
“This says about the team that they have character. I think I am most proud of,” Bosschaart told Ziggo Sport.
“You must not forget that they come from a very difficult phase, have received a lot of criticism, a change from coach, and then an unknown person stands for the group that occasionally strikes a number of empty slogans.
“That is a very difficult phase for them, but I think we are very clear, very transparent and very honest and this group responds very well, so I am proud of it.”
Milan 1-1 Feyenoord FT (1- AGG)
Feyenoord is through to the #UCL round of 16 after securing a second legs against 10-man Milan in San Siro.
Arsenal or Inter Wait in the next round. pic.twitter.com/y9n28qpekl
– Opta Analyst (@Optaanalyst) February 18, 2025
Bossschaart's side started a terrible start when Gimenez, who scored five times this season in so many European matches for Feyenoord, became the first player to score for and against the same team in one Champions League campaign.
The opener of Gimenez was only 36 seconds in Milan's third fastest from the start of a Champions League match, after Clarence Seedorf vs Schalke in September 2005 (21 seconds) and Alexandre Pato vs Barcelona in September 2011 (24 seconds).
The plight situation of the Eredivisie side was then helped by the 51th-minute resignation of Theo Hernandez, however, with the defender of Milan a second caution for simulation.
“If you give a goal within a few minutes, the plan that you wanted to implement will be different again,” Bosschaart added.
“Everyone will now say that we have taken the upper hand after the red card, but I also thought in the first half that we played pretty well. Only after the red card may it be a bit easier.”
Feyenoord can still return to San Siro in the next round, where they are confronted with Inter or Arsenal, but for now Bosschaart has to have their performance sink in.
“It's nice. We are a round further, so special,” Bosschaart continued.
“It's fantastic, but I have to say, it's not really landed with me yet.”
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