PSV have had a poor start to the Europa League. At home, the Eindhoven team did not get further than a 1-1 draw against Bodø/Glimt. The home team’s play in particular was nothing to write home about.
PSV has had quite a few setbacks in recent weeks. It was eliminated in the preliminary rounds of the Champions League, saw Luuk de Jong drop out with a long-term injury and lost quite a chance against FC Twente in the Eredivisie. A win against Bodø/Glimt was supposed to bring positive energy to Eindhoven again.
But what the Eindhoven club showed on the field was especially sleep-inducing. Ruud van Nistelrooij’s team lacks creativity and that soon became clear in the important home game against the Norwegians.
‘Wake up PSV’
The meeting with the Norwegians was important because it is expected that these two teams will decide who will be second in the group behind superpower Arsenal. But in the first half it was tame. There were opportunities through Yorbe Vertessen. But he missed an open chance at two meters from the goal.
On the other hand, half a chance was enough for the Norwegians. A wonderful transition was shot in fantastically by left winger Albert Grönbak. An action you would normally expect from Cody Gakpo, but the PSV attacker was no more than threatening. The halftime signal was a reason for the public to massively say ‘PSV wake up!’ to sing, and they were right.
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First ball contact
Gakpo’s moment came in the second half. Shortly after the replacement of Anwar El Ghazi, the acquisition was immediately important. With his first contact with the ball, a heel ball, he sent the Eindhoven attacker on his way to the goal alone. Gakpo did not fail and shot PSV next to Bodø/Glimt.
The home team played a little better football. Qualitatively it also seemed better than the Norwegians, although the visitors were tactically very strong. The people of Eindhoven didn’t get any great opportunities, despite possession of the ball. There were also no more goals, although goalkeeper Walter Benitez had to save twice in the final phase on bets by the Norwegians.
no conviction
What remains after this match is that PSV cannot yet convince in important matches. In the home game against AS Monaco, it came out unscathed, while it failed to convince against Rangers FC and was eliminated from the Champions League by a blunder. At the first test in the competition, FC Twente-away, things also went wrong for the Eindhoven residents.
Now against Bodø/Glimt, Van Nistelrooij’s team was again unconvincing. A draw is not the end of the world, but by not taking the full loot at home, the pressure is on in the remaining matches in the Europa League. Something a novice trainer cannot use. Certainly not with a heavy program in prospect.