Strong criticism after Champions League blunder: ‘has been failing to deliver at Feyenoord for weeks’

Jan Mulder was stunned by Feyenoord's 0-3 Champions League defeat to Inter on Tuesday. The pundit reserved particular criticism for Gjivai Zechiël when he spoke to Ziggo Sport on Wednesday.

''I didn't expect it. The gap between the sides wasn't as big as they said afterwards, either. Club Brugge won 1-3 in Milan against the same Inter side. Feyenoord were too modest, almost too shy,'' a disappointed Mulder said a day later. ''They should have had a bit more confidence.''

Mulder urged the midfielder to start delivering better performances again soon in a Feyenoord shirt. ''Above all, I think Gjivai Zechiël has let them down. For a few weeks now,'' he said.

On Tuesday, Mulder watched in astonishment as Zechiël and his team-mates proved no match for the wily Inter. ''Zechiël is a very talented footballer. He lifted Feyenoord. But he thinks he's done enough,'' he said.

''There wasn't a very big difference. But there was in terms of intensity,'' Imke Courtois added. ''Inter's approach to international football was very different on Tuesday. Little mistakes get punished.''

Giovanni van Bronckhorst kept Zechiël on for 90 minutes, as he did Oussama Targhalline. Charles Vanhoutte had a very difficult first half, and Tobias van den Elshout replaced him at half-time.

Sitting 30th in the Champions League with three points from four matches, Feyenoord get another chance on 24 November, when FC Porto visit De Kuip.