Europa League: It’s Heartbreaking –Van Persie Reacts After Son’s Injury Vs Real Betis

Feyenoord coach Robin van Persie says it’s heartbreaking to see his son being stretchered off during the team’s 2-1 loss to Real Betis in Thursday’s Europa League game.

The 19-year-old Shaqueel van Persie, son of Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie, was brought on in the 73rd minute and assisted Casper Tengstedt’s 2-1, but was stretchered off ten minutes later after landing awkwardly on his right leg. The youngster’s knee bent backwards, leaving Van Persie in visibly agonising pain

Reacting after the game, Van Persie told Ziggo Sport that he was left concerned on the sideline after son Shaqueel went down and admitted he stood there as a father rather than a manager.

“It’s not looking good. Tests have to point out how he’s doing, but the first signs are not looking good,” Van Persie told Ziggo Sport in his post-match interview.

“You hold your heart when any player goes down with an injury. It happened to be Shaqueel today, that’s just how it is. You hope for the best, but when you hear the first signs that it isn’t, it’s heartbreaking.

“I’m a coach, but I’m also his father, and I find this terrible. It’s a bit of both. It’s heartbreaking that he’s going through this,” Robin van Persie concluded.