After an international match, PSV is preparing for a Brabant cracker next Saturday in Breda at NAC. Although the press conference on Friday was mainly about the birthday of coach Peter Bosz and his future at PSV and the success of Curaçao during World Cup qualifying.
Peter Bosz turned 62 this Friday. After all the congratulations, the trainer is asked how his birthday is going: “Actually the same as every year, just here at the club. The day before the match is the only time we can sleep in a bit, but I got a call from my bed from a radio station.” He has already been treated to a number of gifts. “A beautiful book about Italian wines. They have very good wines there, so I’m going to leaf through them.”
Treating yourself is not an option for Bosz: “I have asked, but Janne Geers (PSV dietitian) does not allow that. Sixty people work here, so if they all start treating, the players will walk a little less quickly.” However, he is allowed to determine his own menu at the club. “Vanilla ice cream, I really like that.”
Curaçao to the World Cup
All internationals have returned unscathed. Jerdy Schouten qualified for the World Cup with the Netherlands, and Armando Obispo also delivered a unique performance by qualifying for the world championship for the first time with Curaçao. A country that Bosz has warm feelings for. “I have been coming to that island for so long, twice a year. I really think it is great for Dick Advocaat and the people there.”
Although all players seem fit, there is no perfect preparation for the match in the Rat Verlegh Stadium in Breda. Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi and Armando Obispo only returned to the training field on Friday from America and Curaçao. “I try to sit down with all the boys when they come back from an international match. Let’s see what it is like and how they feel.”
Does Peter Bosz want to become national coach?
Peter Bosz’s contract with PSV expires. Previously, national coach Ronald Koeman hinted that he might retire after the World Cup, so Bosz’s name is automatically mentioned. “I have no idea about the Dutch team, I am now here at PSV and that is it,” says the coach himself.
He previously indicated that he was open to succeeding Dick Advocaat at Curaçao: “I was not joking about being the national coach of Curaçao. It is a beautiful country that I like to visit.”
NAC-PSV match
Then the match that matters this weekend, the only remaining Brabant derby in the Eredivisie: NAC-PSV. The Pearl of the South often uses an emerging game element: the long throw-in. Last year, NAC had a specialist in-house in Jan van den Bergh, but now Boy Kemper often throws the ball into the enemy sixteen with a swing throw. “It is very direct towards the goal. You will have to guard against that,” says Bosz.
In any case, the PSV coach is impressed by the development of the set pieces: “I recently heard that a third of the goals come from set pieces. When I started in professional football there was not even an assistant coach, now you even have set pieces coaches. But if so many goals are really scored, we may have to look at that in the future.”