PSV – NAC was perhaps unexpectedly a very exciting and above all fun match. The leader of the Eredivisie is in a difficult phase and is therefore less likely to roll over opponents than in the first 1.5 years under Peter Bosz. Nevertheless, the PSV coach was very satisfied and complimented NAC, which, according to his Breda colleague Carl Hoefkens, is taking more and more steps in the right direction.
It is December 6 when PSV puts on a show against FC Twente. They beat the Tukkers 6-1. It is the next team that will be ‘slaughtered’ in Eindhoven. But six weeks later, more and more teams sense their opportunity in the Philips Stadium. AZ lost points, Excelsior was only defeated after extra time and NAC was also close to a stunt.
“Arbitration is not a topic for me today.”
“But you shouldn’t have those expectations from Twente at home now,” Bosz said afterwards. “We have so many sick people in the selection. Benítez even played with a fever. Then you cannot match Twente’s performance at home.”
Still, he enjoyed the match. PSV may not have had full control, ‘but it was a real match.’ Bosz: “And that was mainly due to NAC. They chose not to defend, but dared to put pressure on us. Then they also forced mistakes. We made enough of those, we had to work hard.”
The visitors’ trainer could only be satisfied with that. “I am very proud of my team. We play for the national champions and they have difficulty with us. That is a good development that we are going through.”
The supporters of the Breda club felt that they were being disadvantaged by the referee. A goal by Sydney van Hooijdonk was disallowed and Ivan Perisic was ‘only’ booked for a serious foul. “That is not a theme for me today at all,” Hoefkens did not want to waste too many words on it. To add: “It’s not a shame or a problem, but you know that an absolute top team always gets something more. That’s part of it.”
“I have seen last season’s team at times.”
While NAC seems to be doing well this season, that remains to be seen with PSV. “The fact that we got three points today is the most important thing,” Bosz emphasized. “In the title battle, the competitors who are free this weekend are all looking at you with the hope that you will lose points against a good NAC. Even though a lot went wrong, I also saw last season’s team at times.”
It should give the trainer courage for the coming weeks, which will be incredibly busy. The next 1.5 weeks will see three more matches in three different competitions (Champions League, Eredivisie and KNVB Cup). The hope is that everyone will become fitter and recover from the flu. “But unfortunately we don’t have those guarantees.”
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PSV has not yet regained top form, but has won against brutal NAC