PSV starts the new competition on Saturday evening with a home game against the club against which it took the title last season: Sparta Rotterdam. According to trainer Peter Bosz, his team is on the right track last week after the win of the Johan Cruijff Scale. “We are in good shape, but we have to grow in both physical and the way of playing.”
Bosz can have an almost fit selection. Behind a number of names is a question mark, such as that of attacker Esmir Bajraktarevic. And so the trainer has to make choices, for example who starts during rush hour: Ricardo Pepi or Alassane Pléa. “It’s great that I have to make this choice, I like luxury problems. Isn’t it better than if you have to choose between two bad strikers?”
In the short term, he expects to welcome an asset in Eindhoven. PSV is in conversation with the Romanian attacker Dennis Man van Parma. “It is true that we are looking for a replacement for Johan Bakayoko (for RB Leizig, ed.). He must be better than the players who already have the club. I can’t say anything about Dennis Man. Only when I have shaken him and work with him for a while, do I know more about him.”
From midfielder Tygo Land and Isaac Babadi, Bosz will most likely say goodbye to temporary farewell. “They are at an age that they really have to make minutes, that will not happen enough with us. No flying hours at Keuken Champion Division level, but in the Eredivisie.”
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The many mutations are not ideal, according to Bosz. The TransfeDeadline will only close on 2 September at 11.59 pm. “Honestly, as a trainer you prefer that the selection is known on 30 June. Clubs have had the time to buy and sell. How Ajax and Feyenoord are doing? I really have no idea, there is still a lot of happening.”
Another conversation that the PSV management conducts is with Bosz about a contract extension. There is not yet green light. “But I am certainly open to it. I am having a good time at PSV, I feel completely comfortable here.”
“The chemistry in a team needs time.”
On Saturday evening at nine o’clock, PSV kicks off this Eredivisie season for the first game. “I think we have a better team than Sparta Rotterdam. But that says nothing if you don’t bring what you have to bring. We are not yet where we want to be. Experienced players have left and talented boys have been added. The chemistry in a team needs time.”
