Van Persie Defends Sterling from ‘Bambi on Ice’ Backlash After Feyenoord Debut

Robin van Persie criticizes the ‘inappropriate’ backlash against Raheem Sterling following the former Chelsea player’s shaky Feyenoord debut.

Sterling’s Rust on Debut

Sterling joined Feyenoord earlier this month after mutually ending his £325,000-a-week contract with Chelsea in January. The 31-year-old England international made his first appearance as a substitute in a 2-1 victory over Telstar last Sunday.

After nine months without playing for Chelsea this season, Sterling appeared rusty during his brief outing, sparking widespread social media criticism.

Van Persie’s Strong Defense

Ahead of Feyenoord’s match against FC Twente on Sunday, manager Van Persie defends his new signing. “If you have a little sense of context, where he comes from, what he’s achieved in the past, and that he hasn’t had any team training for months,” Van Persie states.

“I understand that there are expectations of an absolute top player, but to criticise him like that after half an hour—his first half hour after over six months—then you really don’t understand anything at all.”

Van Persie acknowledges that blunt feedback is common in Dutch football but deems the initial reaction excessive. “A large part was positive, but some of it was also quite Dutch. Being blunt about everything that everyone thought wasn’t right,” he adds.

“If you’re five or six weeks in and you think he’s not delivering, okay, then you have a point. But to throw out such strong opinions based on his first half hour, I thought, was inappropriate.”

Social Media Storm

One Instagram account, FootballPark with nearly 100,000 followers, labeled Sterling’s performance a ‘disaster.’ The post reads: “Raheem Sterling’s debut for Feyenoord was not exactly a success story—in fact, it looked like a veritable disaster from the Dutch club’s point of view.”

“The English winger looked like Bambi on ice. On a downward spiral since 2022, lacking motivation, and seemingly unable to play under anyone who isn’t named Pep Guardiola, Sterling is well and truly into his twilight years. Is it time to hang the boots up once and for all?”

Sterling’s former Manchester City teammate Jack Grealish counters the criticism online. “What a f*****g stupid Instagram post man what’s wrong with you guys. Guy hasn’t played or trained for so long. Ppl like u guys is what wrong with the world. Have some respect,” Grealish writes.