Inter Milan & Netherlands Defender Unfazed By De Kuip Atmosphere Ahead Of Feyenoord Match: “Used To Play At Such Stadiums” | OneFootball

Inter Milan veteran Stefan de Vrij insists the atmosphere at Feyenoord’s iconic De Kuip will not intimidate the Italian giants.

Speaking to InterTV via FCInterNews, the 33-year-old addressed the Dutch club’s famous home support.

Having played over 100 matches for Feyenoord, Stefan de Vrij is uniquely qualified to talk about the Rotterdam faithful.

Indeed, he graduated from Da Stadionclub’s academy before making his senior debut in 2009.

De Vrij left his boyhood club to join Lazio in 2014.

Now, over a decade after departing his homeland, he returns to his old stomping ground as a foe.

“I’m very happy to be back here. It will be a very special match for me,” De Vrij admitted.

However, the Netherlands international must put his feelings for Feyenoord aside to help Inter reach the quarter-finals.

Despite boasting a strong pre-match favoritism, the Nerazzurri must not underestimate Robin Van Persie’s side.

Inter Milan Ace Stefan de Vrij Insists Feyenoord’s De Kuip Will Not Scare Nerazzurri Off

“Inter is used to playing in these kinds of environments,” he said. “We’ve played so many matches like this.

“It’s a fantastic stadium, and the fans really push their team forward – we’ll need to put in a great performance.”

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 02: Stefan de Vrij of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, De Vrij delivered his verdict on sought-after winger Igor Paixao.

The Brazilian forward scored a winning goal in Feyenoord’s home win against AC Milan in the knockout playoffs.

Furthermore, he has been his team’s standout performer this season even before Santiago Gimenez’s switch to the San Siro.

“He’s very good in one-on-one situations – he beats his man and always creates something,” De Vrij stated.

“But it’s not just him; they have other strong players too. We’ve prepared for it and know what we need to do.”

Finally, De Vrij explained how Inter manage to juggle multiple competitions without losing momentum.

“We manage it by focusing on the next match without looking too far ahead.

“Right now, our minds are on tomorrow. We’ll give everything to win and put in a great performance.”