PSV don finally collect di Eredivisie title for Netherlands on Sunday, after Feyenoord fail to beat FC Volendam. Na historic win dis one, because no team for Eredivisie history don ever win championship by April 5 before. Di previous record na April 8, 1978, wey PSV sef set am. Dis na Peter Bosz third league title back-to-back.
But make we yarn how PSV reach dis point. Dem no start di season as leaders. For late August, newly promoted Telstar shock dem 2-0 for PSV own stadium. For September, Ajax come hold dem to 2-2 draw. Feyenoord start di season well-well, dem dey top of table through October.
Everything change October 26. PSV go Feyenoord ground, De Kuip, win dem 3-2. Dat match give Feyenoord first loss of di season. From dat moment, di two teams tie on points, but Feyenoord still lead because of better goal difference.
After dat match, PSV begin to fly. Dem string victory after victory. Feyenoord early momentum just vanish. By mid-March, di gap between dem don reach 19 points. PSV dey cruise, but dem still get small blemish for di past few weeks. Dem lose to NEC 3-2 and Telstar 3-1. NEC even beat PSV for league and KNVB Cup semi-finals. PSV Champions League campaign end for main phase, step back from last season when dem reach round of 16.
Now make we focus on Sunday match wey decide everything. Feyenoord go FC Volendam ground, need win to keep small hope alive. But from beginning, di match dull well-well. Feyenoord play without winger Anis Hadj Moussa, and dem struggle for first half. No goal, no serious chance. Volendam sef no do anything meaningful before halftime.
Second half, Feyenoord try small. Dem create some opportunities, but finishing no dey. Di match dey drag, tension dey rise. With 15 minutes to go, something special happen. Jivayno Zinhagel come on for senior team debut. Di boy just sixteen years and 352 days old, one of di youngest players for club history.
But di real wahala for di match na referee matter. Referee Allard Lindhout become center of attention with controversial decisions. Feyenoord fans frustration dey mix between dia team poor performance and referee calls.
Di biggest moment come after 68 minutes. Ayase Ueda go down for penalty area after sliding tackle. Ball no near, penalty look justifiable. But Lindhout let play continue. VAR official Dennis Higler no intervene. Feyenoord people dey shock. Dis na second time similar situation happen for di match.
Even Sterling own case no get punishment, although Mawouna Amevor touch ball small. Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie don already collect yellow card for protesting after foul on Ueda no get call.
All dis decisions make anger grow for pitch and outside. Social media don full with criticism. People dey call am ‘scandalous refereeing’. Dem point to several moments wey Feyenoord suppose get penalty. VAR official Higler sef collect heavy criticism.
One comment for X talk say: “Feyenoord are terrible themselves, but Lindhout is just awful. Clear-cut penalties. Time and time again.” Anoda supporter write: “If Lindhout doesn’t see it, you’ve got VAR, but apparently that doesn’t do anything either.”
For FR12, anger dey widespread about Feyenoord performance. One comment talk say: “Volendam.” Anoda one criticize coaching staff: “With this manager, you know it’s rubbish and it’ll never amount to anything.” One old supporter wey follow team since 1970 sigh say: “…this is an eyesore.” Anoda person for X talk say: “They should force Lindhout to stop; this is really unacceptable.”
Di 0-0 draw mean Feyenoord lose valuable points for battle for second place. But more importantly, dem give PSV di title. PSV now get 27 Eredivisie titles, reduce difference with Ajax to nine. Ajax remain Dutch leader with 36 titles, Feyenoord rank third with 16.
Meanwhile, anoda story dey connect to dis Feyenoord matter. Mohamed Salah close friend and former teammate don reveal why Salah decide to leave Liverpool. Egyptian King announce he go leave Anfield during international break. Di 33-year-old score 255 goals, produce 119 assists for 436 appearances for Liverpool. His trophy cabinet include two Premier League titles, Champions League, League Cup, FA Cup, and plenty individual honors.
But dis season, Salah form drop. Egypt icon Mohamed Aboutrika reveal hard truth about why Salah really leaving. According to Egyptian journalist Ismael Mahmoud post for X, Aboutrika talk with Salah after he announce departure. Dem discuss how Arne Slot na main reason behind his exit.
Di post talk say: “One of the reasons behind Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool is the presence of Arne Slot, because we’ve seen issues in the recent period… You, Slot, pushed the man away. Salah only had a two-year contract with Liverpool… Salah wants to work with peace of mind and enjoy the next phase of his career. Salah doesn’t need any validation from Slot or anyone else.”
Salah and Slot relationship don strain since December last year when Salah accuse Slot of ‘throwing him under the bus’ after manager drop am for three consecutive games. Bridge between dem no fully rebuild since dat nuclear interview.
Irony of di matter be say Arne Slot position for Liverpool sef dey under review. Reds only win one match across dia previous four fixtures. Worries about Champions League qualification dey grow. If dem no finish top five, na disaster for club and manager. Dull playing style and humiliating FA Cup exit already be major sticking points. Fanbase desire for Xabi Alonso appointment continue to grow.
So while PSV dey celebrate historic early title win, Feyenoord dey lick wounds after disappointing draw. And for England, Liverpool future dey uncertain as Salah prepare to leave with Slot own job hanging by thread.
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