PSV

PSV is back on the ground. After a flawless start in the Eredivisie, it lost in the first match in the Champions League (3-1) against Juventus. In Turin, PSV fell through the ice and showed that it is not good enough for the highest level for the time being.

The Eindhoven team played along nicely for twenty minutes. After that, Juventus showed the sore points of this PSV quite clearly. Because where everything went crescendo in the Eredivisie, it went wrong in the first serious test of strength.

Tactically, Peter Bosz’s team was outclassed on the right. And just like in the match against Borussia Dortmund last February, the players could not turn it around themselves. ‘Juve’ continuously created a numerical advantage against Richard Ledezma. The midfielder, who is still playing right back in the absence of Rick Karsdorp, was hardly or not at all helped by his teammates.

PSV is overrun
It created a lot of freedom and it was not for nothing that Juventus left winger Kenan Yildiz scored the opening goal. Ledezma had to choose and (in hindsight) made the wrong choice. The Turkish forward curled the ball beautifully into the far corner.

PSV lost it for a moment and Juventus got wings after the opening goal. Joël Drommel, who was in goal because Walter Benitez had become a father, postponed the second Italian goal. But six minutes after the opening goal it was still 2-0. Weston McKennie was able to score from close range. PSV were completely overrun in that phase.

Collective failure
It is very easy to look at the inexperienced left and right backs of PSV. But Matteo Dams and Richard Ledezma were part of the collective that simply failed. The experienced players also made obvious mistakes. Like Joey Veerman at 3-0.

The midfielder let himself be childishly pushed off the ball, after which it was open house in the PSV defense. Nicolas Gonzalez took advantage and made it 3-0. Not much later Veerman had to pay for his mediocre match with a substitution. In the last minute of injury time substitute Ismael Saibari eased the pain by making it 3-1.

Not good enough
The conclusion is quite simple and quick to draw after one Champions League match. This PSV is certainly good enough to (probably) become champions in the Eredivisie. But as soon as the resistance increases, it has no answer. That does not mean that the Bosz team will have no chance in the rest of the Champions League campaign. There will be enough opponents that are of a lower calibre than Juventus, such as Girona, Stade Brest and Shakhtar Donetsk. The points will have to be won there.

But the defeat in Turin shows that the doubts about the quality of the selection were justified. They bought to become champions again in the Eredivisie. But that is not enough to be able to score high in the Champions League. The second match is in two weeks. Then Sporting CP will visit Eindhoven.

Also read: PSV supporters spend more than 30 hours on the bus for the match in Turin

Although players can still be bought and sold on Monday, Earnest Stewart is already looking back on the past transfer period. The technical director of PSV acknowledges that it has been a difficult time. There have been many internal strife and the market was also very difficult, according to him. “I don’t understand what we are doing to each other.”

The goal at PSV was clear this transfer summer: keep the championship team of last season together. That mission was largely successful, but not without a fight. Internally, there were still many players who wanted to leave but ultimately stayed in Eindhoven.

“It hasn’t been a fun period internally,” Stewart admits. “Players see opportunities to play in a bigger league and to improve financially. That’s very understandable, but I have to look after PSV’s interests. That’s difficult.”

Olivier Boscagli and Walter Benitez, among others, would have liked to make a transfer, but the technical director refused.

“Not a single player had their price reduced this transfer window.”

PSV strengthened themselves early in the transfer window with Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, Couhaib Driouech and Ryan Flamingo. “That was very important this summer. Because after that the transfer market started very slowly. And everyone suddenly had a hefty price tag.”

And PSV encountered that problem with Sepp van den Berg, among others. PSV was after the central defender of Liverpool for a very long time. The club wanted to buy the Dutchman for less than 20 million. But in the end he went to Brentford for 35 million.

Right back Rick Karsdorp joined PSV on a free transfer in the final days (photo: ANP/Bart Stoutjesdijk).

“Whether I was wrong about that,” Stewart repeats the question. “There is no sticker on such a player with a price. It is a long process with multiple hijackers on the coast. You hope that the prices will then go down. But the price of no player has gone down this transfer period. That is quite new.”

But at PSV there was certainly no outlet either. “We also stood firm with the entire board. We became champions, but that does not mean that we then sell players. That was difficult internally. But apart from a small moment with Jordan Teze, we got out of there.”

Also read: Defender Jordan Teze refused to continue playing for PSV for a while

Adamo Nagalo will be officially presented on Monday and with that the technical director has also strengthened the defense in the last few days. PSV can still do that because the transfer market in the Netherlands is open a few days longer than abroad. An advantage?

“I don’t understand what we’re all doing to each other. If it were up to me, the market would close on August 1. Nobody would be happy about this. We all need to see if we can close the transfer period before the start of the competition. But for us, this wasn’t an advantage. It also became quiet after Friday.”

All in all, Stewart can look back on the transfer period with satisfaction. Many key players have stayed in Eindhoven and reinforcements have arrived in time. “It was sometimes quite a push and pull, but it was especially important that we were able to present four new signings early on. Now it is important to become champions again. That is of course the goal.”

Earnest Stewart at PSV’s championship party (photo: OrangePictures).

PSV did not let the transfer problems and a number of injuries distract them at Almere City FC. The reigning champion booked a big win in Flevoland: 1-7.

PSV quickly took a 2-0 lead through Guus Til and Luuk de Jong, but saw Kornelius Hansen respond for Almere after the break.

Couhaib Driouech, Malik Tillman, Théo Barbet (own goal), Hirving Lozano and Ricardo Pepi still ensured a big win.

PSV are leading the Eredivisie with 9 points from three games, just like last season. The Eindhoven team have already scored fifteen times.

Transfer issues
PSV coach Peter Bosz has had enough on his mind in recent weeks. Several players are eyeing a transfer, while PSV itself is mainly looking for reinforcements at the back.

Goalkeeper Walter Benitez wants to go to Atletico Madrid and defender Olivier Boscagli to Brighton & Hove Albion. Jerdy Schouten is of interest to Napoli and Jordan Teze has already been sold to AS Monaco.

In addition to the transfer issues, the team is struggling with a number of injuries. Schouten and Johan Bakayoko were absent in Almere due to injuries, while Ismael Saibari, Mauro Júnior, Sergiño Dest and Armando Obispo were also unavailable.