“You really don’t understand” – Manager hits back after player’s Chelsea exit

Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie has hit back at critics of Raheem Sterling following his arrival from Chelsea.

Soccer News cover comments from the Feyenoord boss today. He’s been left less than impressed by the reception the 31-year-old has received in the Netherlands.

Sterling joined Feyenoord on a free transfer earlier this month after bringing his time at Chelsea to an end. He endured a difficult end to his time at Stamford Bridge, where Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior essentially froze him out.

The plan is to get his career back on track in the Netherlands before assessing his options. That plan started slowly with his debut over the weekend.

Post Chelsea criticism

He came on in the 61st minute of the 2-1 win over Telstar but was unable to make much of an impression.

That led to criticism from the Dutch media, who are less than impressed by the transfer. Indeed, Sport Witness covered a report three days ago insisting that Sterling will be a flop at his new club.

Van Persie has seen such criticism and isn’t happy about what he’s read so far. In fact, he thinks the criticism that he’s seen is completely inappropriate.

“Some of the reactions were quite Dutch, as I know them,” he said.

“I found a very large portion positive and very understanding. However, there was also a portion that, in typical Dutch style, went straight to the point and pointedly at everything that wasn’t right. I thought it was inappropriate, let’s put it that way.

“To criticize him like that based on half an hour, his first half hour in over six months, I think that’s really inappropriate. Then you really don’t understand anything at all. Again, that’s a typical Dutch thing.

“I would feel differently about it if you were six weeks in. If you think he’s not delivering in certain areas, you have a well-founded opinion about it. Then you have a point. But to throw out such strong opinions based on half an hour, I thought it was really inappropriate.”