Peter Bosz, Ricardo Pepi and Jerdy Schouten look back on the draw in Athens (1-1) with mixed feelings. “Olympiakos were better than us, so this is a point won,” the coach said at the press conference after the match. The coach of the Eindhoven team even thought about making a substitution at half-time, but decided to speak sternly to his team.
“The first half was bad,” Bosz begins. “Jerdy Schouten and Yarek Gasiorowski were the best of the starting line-up today, but our backs, Salah-Eddine and Dest, did not reach their usual level.” He is also not happy with the game: “We were not good enough in possession of the ball. Normally we are dominant, but I did not see that today.”
The 61-year-old even thought the first half was so bad that he hesitated to make a substitution at half-time. “I was a bit fiercer than usual during the break and said that they still have ten minutes to show what we can do.”
Ultimately, a substitution was actually made in minute 58. Ricardo Pepi, among others, then entered the field. He eventually scored the equalizer in the very last minute: “As a striker you always have to think that you can score until the referee blows the whistle,” says the American.
Lately, Pepi has had to make do with a reserve role, because Guus Til is now preferred. “It’s not my choice not to start and I don’t doubt the coach’s decisions.” Bosz is also happy with the efforts of his substitutes: “I think the five substitutes made the difference today.” In addition to Pepi, Couhaib Driouech, Paul Wanner, Emir Bajraktarevic and Myron Boadu also came in.
Captain Jerdy Schouten cannot really describe his feelings after the match. “The 1-1 comes late, then you can say: “Lucky”, but we did not reach the level we should have reached.” He said there was certainly no celebration in the locker room after the game.
Trust remains
PSV has four tough matches against Liverpool, Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich and Newcastle United. Points will have to be earned to reach the next round of the Champions League. Peter Bosz certainly sees that happening: “We know who our opponents are and we are good against tough opponents. Napoli was the best opponent on paper so far and we won.”
Schouten also sees no reason to panic: “We know what we can do, so it’s not like I’m in sackcloth now. The next round is certainly still possible.”