Are you satisfied with the transfer window? How do you look back on it?
Te Kloese: 'I am never satisfied, but overall we have had a very busy and in my opinion good summer, both incoming and outgoing. Due to an improved financial situation, for the first time in many, many years we were able to act early and ambitiously with the arrivals of Sem Steijn and Luciano Valente. Also with the contract extensions of Anis Hadj Moussa and shortly before that Givairo Read, and the signings of Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Gonçalo Borges, Anel Ahmedhodžić, Casper Tengstedt, Jordan Bos, Gaoussou Diarra, Malcolm Jeng and Cyle Larin, we are internally very satisfied. The hardest part was that there was no final clarity for such a long time about the departure of Dávid Hancko. Especially for the player himself that was extremely unpleasant, but also for us, because it limited our power of action for a while. After all, you have to operate cautiously as long as it is not certain that the millions you hope and even expect to receive will actually come in. That would otherwise be very bad and totally irresponsible.'

Feyenoord is said to have spent a record amount on players. Doesn’t the club thereby take a (unhealthy) big risk, especially now that the Champions League group stage has not been reached?
'One of the most important pillars of our policy is that we do not take irresponsible risks. Our budget is structured around that, and that approach has turned us in recent years from a struggling to a financially healthy club. From a sporting perspective it is of course a real pity that we are not playing Champions League. After last year’s memorable campaign we would have loved to compete at the highest level again, but playing in the Europa League is absolutely no punishment and certainly not a financial disaster, as I read somewhere. Also do not forget that last season and this summer a lot of money has come in through sales, with amounts unique for Feyenoord.'

Does Feyenoord not currently have too many squad players under contract? And is that a consequence of the choices the club has made in recent years? To – as it seems – occasionally take a gamble with players coming from smaller clubs?
'At Feyenoord we never sign players at random, there is always a solid process and an idea behind it. Our continuous search for opportunities on the transfer market has little to do with the size of the squad. It has much more to do with the fact that recent seasons have shown that as a football club you need a lot of players. The full calendar causes an enormous workload on player groups, and as a club you have to take that into account. Enough quality and quantity in your squad to be able to play three times a week at full intensity and absorb injuries. At the same time it is an art to take responsibility for all your players in terms of perspective, development opportunities and playing time. For everyone you look for the right solution. It is custom work. And, as with all other clubs, unfortunately over the years not every recruited player turns out to be a bull’s eye.'

You must have noticed that Quilindschy Hartman, who moved to England, spoke negatively in an interview about his last months at the club. Do you recognize the extensive picture he painted that communication is not the trainer’s strongest point?
'No, this is really nonsense. That a player does not hear what he wants to hear is something different from communication not being good or clear. Robin actually states very clearly what he thinks and believes. So if he thinks you are training poorly or that at that moment you are simply not as good as a competitor and therefore start on the bench, then he says so. Crystal clear. A player can be disappointed about that, but that has nothing to do with poor communication. It is nice that Hartman has since nuanced his statements, is still proud of the club and feels like a Feyenoord player. We never doubted that for a moment, by the way.'

Afterwards, part of the media still started a kind of search for players who wanted to confirm that Robin van Persie does not communicate optimally.
'That some analysts adopt such a story unquestioningly and then say on TV things like ‘I think Robin did not handle that well communication-wise’, that astonishes me again. Then I think: What makes you think you can say this? Do you know how many times the trainer sat with this player? Do you know how those conversations went? Do you know the physical data that may or may not support certain conclusions? Did the same issues – such as, for example, not wanting to extend the contract – perhaps also play under the previous trainer? And have you as a so-called expert even had contacts or made any effort to verify claims before going along with them? But apparently that is no longer necessary.'

The club did not respond after the story was published. Wouldn’t it have been better to nuance his story immediately, as you are now doing after all?
'That opportunity was only offered to us hours after the story had already been published and everyone had therefore already read it. Then it is no longer necessary, because then our reaction will only be used to fuel the story once again.'

Also, the removal of the captain’s armband from Quinten Timber was a major topic this summer, even the national coach from Zeist had something to say about it.
'Yes, I noticed that as well. Quite remarkable, because I could also very well follow that choice of Robin (Van Persie, ed.). Quinten is a great player and a leader, but the chance that he would leave this summer was constantly looming. As a trainer, especially with a team that had seen a few key players leave, you want to go into preparation with a captain who also indicates he wants to go 100 percent for Feyenoord this season. Quinten kept the door for a foreign adventure open throughout the window. That is allowed, but then in my view the trainer’s choice for another captain is not an illogical consequence. Now that the window is closed, I can indicate that at Feyenoord we are all happy that Quinten is still here.'

Robin van Persie already stated before the summer that Feyenoord’s goal is: the championship. Do you and thus the club agree with that?
'Of course. Clubs like PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord will always set the national title as a goal, even though you know in advance that only one of the three will achieve that goal. That’s why we are top clubs and – yes – I believe in it again.'