Feyenoord feel fitter but the Alps loom over Van Bronckhorst

On a crisp morning at De Kuip’s training complex, Feyenoord’s squad jogged in tight formation, their breath visible in the chill. Coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst noted the group feels fresher than in the previous two seasons, even with eight heavy duels looming in the next 29 days.

Fitness boost and training philosophy

Clubwatcher Mikos Gouka noted the players indeed appear more robust, a shift the club’s performance analysts attribute to the new training regime introduced in the summer. Van Bronckhorst praised the approach, saying, “It is going well for us so far, also in combination with the way we have been training since the summer.”

Anis Hadj Moussa and Tsuyoshi Watanabe returned from the international break carrying minor injuries, which medical staff assessed as non‑serious. Nevertheless, Van Bronckhorst warned that the upcoming “Alpen” fixtures demand caution, as the schedule will become increasingly demanding. The Eerste squad also felt the impact of the short recovery time. Met Anis, the medical team monitored their progress closely.

Earlier in the season, former technical director Robin van Persie boasted an 88 percent availability rate for the squad, a figure he deemed ideal for a competitive campaign. After a series of setbacks, that number fell to 71 percent, prompting Van Persie to lament the drop and the impact of lingering injuries.

Van Bronckhorst, unlike his predecessor, shies away from public percentage tables, preferring a measured tone. He highlighted the influence of Sipke Hulshoff and Saïd Bakkati, who joined the coaching staff last summer and have reshaped the team’s preparation methods.

Performance staff’s role in the fitness battle

The club’s performance department, led by seasoned specialists, now bears the responsibility of tracking each player’s physical load. “The performance staff here has the know‑how and brings the experience of recent years,” Van Bronckhorst explained, stressing the need for precise monitoring as the “Alpen” period approaches.

Five squad members remain unavailable: Thomas Beelen, Jordan Bos, Gijs Smal, Jakub Moder and Bart Nieuwkoop. Integrating them once fit will be a logistical challenge, a situation Van Persie described last season as a “vicious cycle” of premature returns and new complaints.

Technical director Dévy Rigaux assumed the fitness dossier this summer, aiming to end the two‑year run of extensive absences. He declined to elaborate on specifics, noting the club’s focus on long‑term health. The accompanying photograph bears the credit “Giovanni van Bronckhorst © Pro Shots / Toon Dompeling”.