"Isn't the press weak?".

Feyenoord faced Inter Milan in the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League on the 6th (Korea time) at Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, but suffered a 0-2 defeat, casting a shadow over their chances of reaching the quarterfinals.

The home team, Feyenoord, operated in a 4-3-3 formation. Leading the attack was Julian Caransak, while Osman and Haji Musa were placed on the wings. The midfield was occupied by Smal, Moder, and Igor Payzhao, while the defense consisted of Bueno, Hantsko, Vailen, and Mitchell. The goal was guarded by Velenroiter.

In response, Inter Milan countered with a 3-5-2 formation. Leading the attack were Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, while the midfield was made up of Zielinski, Aslani, and Barella. Bastoni and Dumfries were positioned on the flanks, and Pavard, De Vrij, and Acerbi formed the back three. The goal was defended by Jose Martinez.

Feyenoord showed aggressive movement from the start, but could not break through Inter Milan's strong defense. Instead, in the 38th minute of the first half, after receiving a pass from Dumfries, Barella's cross was calmly finished by Thuram inside the box, giving Inter Milan the opening goal.

Five minutes into the second half, Inter Milan scored another goal to seize the momentum. Zielinski, receiving a pass from Bastoni, attempted a shot, which was saved by the goalkeeper Velenroiter, but Lautaro didn't miss the spilled ball and pushed it in, making it 0-2.

Feyenoord attempted a counterattack in the 10th minute of the second half, with Moder hitting the crossbar, but ultimately failed to score.

The most disappointing aspect of the game was that Feyenoord's midfield battle was lacking. This is not unrelated to the fact that the core of the midfield, Hwang In-beom, has not yet returned from injury. Hwang In-beom has been out since suffering an injury in a match against Sparta Rotterdam on Feb. 8.

Hwang In-beom quickly established himself as a key player for Feyenoord this season. He is known for his game management, ball distribution, and defensive involvement, playing a central role in Feyenoord's midfield. However, due to his absence, the team struggled to effectively break through Inter Milan's strong pressure in this match and faced difficulties in consolidation between offense and defense.

After being unable to participate in matches due to injury, Hwang In-beom revealed in a recent interview, "It’s very regrettable to be injured and unable to play in important games. I'm especially sad that I can't be with the team during difficult times." Having consistently played enough to be called the 'Iron King' for both his club and national team, this injury is particularly disappointing.

Feyenoord demonstrated their potential by putting up a competitive performance against Manchester City in the group stage this season. They also created a miracle under difficult circumstances in the round of 16 playoff against AC Milan. However, such miracles did not occur again in the first leg against Inter Milan.

Especially due to the injuries of key players, it is not easy to manage the team's strength. Hwang In-beom, along with Lamiz Cherouki, Quinten Timber, Facundo González, and Kelvin Stengs, are currently unavailable due to injuries. In a situation lacking offensive options, Japanese striker Ayase Ueda was introduced in the second half, but he was insufficient to change the game's flow.

Feyenoord will play the second leg of the round of 16 on the 12th at the San Siro, Inter Milan's home ground. Having lost by two goals at home, they face the challenging task of needing to win away. However, without the return of key players, it may be difficult to expect a turnaround.

Inter Milan's manager Simone Inzaghi expressed in a post-match interview, "I'm happy to win even after making rotations. It’s meaningful as we still compete with several teams," and noted, "The management of players is entirely my responsibility. I am satisfied with our players. The opponent was strong, but we did well."

He added, "Feyenoord is a high-level team. However, they allowed four attackers and brought a relatively different system to the match, but they were manageable. Honestly, we were a bit sluggish at first, but Feyenoord's pressure weakened. Unlike at the start, Feyenoord's pressure disappeared. So, it became easier for us to play." This comment addressed the midfield issues stemming from Hwang In-beom's absence.

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