A hustle and bustle, not in, but around the Phillips Stadium. Thousands of fans went to Eindhoven on Saturday to celebrate the Fandag of their Club. In addition to the many sports and play, there is healthy tension under the red-white striped fans. Because is the Eindhoven club going to make it, with all those new faces? If you ask the fans: “I have faith in it, because they are the best.”
Julie is skilled with a spray can of graffiti. Just like her, everyone who calls himself a little PSV fan can be found at the stadium. She is making a banner, so that she has something to encourage her favorite club next season. Although that season only starts in two weeks, the healthy tension is already playing at Julie. “I think they are going to do very well. They have experienced a lot and learned from it.”
“I doubt that there are people today who do not love PSV,” laughs Koen van Haastert. He works for the club and keeps an eye on a number of electronic columns where you can test through a questionnaire whether you are really a fan. “But you don’t have to go home if you don’t score 100%.”
By far the biggest crowds around the stadium accumulates in the Fanshop, where the employees have their hands full of printing shirts. It is even so busy that extra printing machines have to be used. “Van Bommel and” Perišic are very popular “, panting an employee, busy with a few shirts. On the other side of the counter, a small fan just takes out his brand new shirt. He proudly shows the back:” Perišic, because he is the best player of PSV. “
Inside the stadium it is quiet. Groups of fans, who participate in a tour, look out over the playing field. Now all the red chairs are still empty, but that will be different tonight, when PSV plays a friendly match against Athletic Club Bilbao. To get in the mood, the stadium is kicked a ball. With a small run -up, Dennis de Kort from Eindhoven shoots a ball towards a large inflatable goal with holes. He misses and hopes that the PSV players will do a little better than he did. “That is right. I see a lot of potential in the new players. And that championship, we just go for that again.”
The young PSV fan Maud van der Donk looks at how a few other people make an attempt at the inflatable goal. She knows that the club has changed nicely in terms of composition. Does she still have faith in the players? “Certainly, in Veerman and Til. They will become champions anyway,” she says enthusiastically.
That enthusiasm flares up even further when a number of players drive along the fans in a car touch. They are flooded with high fives and cheers. It is a warm welcome for newcomer Nick Olij. “This is a very different way than I am used to,” he laughs.
At the last minute, the club shares a news that many fans look up. Jerdy Schouten will follow Luuk de Jong as the leader. “I am proud to wear the bond and of course make every effort to give the correct example in all respects, both inside and outside the lines,” Schouten says through the club.