Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj Moussa has expressed his delight after helping his side progress to the Champions League last 16, following a hard-fought victory over AC Milan.
The Dutch club secured their place in the knockout stage with a 1-0 win in the first leg, followed by a 1-1 draw at San Siro.
For Hadj Moussa, the achievement marks a significant milestone in his career. The Algerian international’s journey to the top level has been unconventional, having been released by RC Lens and overlooked by AJ Auxerre earlier in his career.
He was forced to prove himself in Belgium, playing for Olympique Charleroi and Patro Eisden, before earning a move to Feyenoord last summer.
Speaking after the match, Hadj Moussa reflected on the team’s performance and the challenge of facing AC Milan.
“It wasn’t easy here at San Siro. We gave it our all to get through to the next round. We put our legs and heart into it to be able to eliminate this good Milanese team.
It’s also true that we took advantage of our numerical superiority after Hernandez was sent off. I think that helped us in the second half,” he told Canal Plus.
With Feyenoord’s passage to the last 16 secured, the Dutch champions now turn their attention to a formidable challenge against either Inter Milan or Arsenal in the next round.
“In the round of 16, we will face either Inter Milan or Arsenal. It will be tough, but we will prepare for it,” Hadj Moussa added.
The 23-year-old’s rise to prominence at Feyenoord has been remarkable, given the setbacks he faced early in his career.
His performances in the Champions League have further cemented his place in the squad, and he will now be looking to make an impact in the knockout stages as Feyenoord aim to continue their European journey.
