PSV coach Ruud van Nistelrooij has maintained for a long time that the club was going for the championship. On Friday he had to admit for the first time that Feyenoord will become champion. “I’m not going to congratulate them until they are really champions, but the question is no longer whether they will be.”
And so second place is the highest achievable for now. PSV wants to secure the preliminary rounds of the Champions League and then start full of fresh courage on July 3. With Van Nistelrooy at the helm? “Why not. I signed for three years. There is no doubt in my mind to continue.”
Place two
PSV has the best starting position to get second place. An important place in the ranking because the club still has a view of the millions in the Champions League. Win two more home games and then this position in the ranking is assured.
After Ajax dropped two points on Saturday evening, there was no party in the PSV bus. “But it was a good result for us,” says Van Nistelrooij with a smile.
PSV still has to win at home against Fortuna Sittard and SC Heerenveen to secure this second place. “That is our full focus. It is important to stay sharp. There is no room for slackening. On Sunday we have to show that we want to get the job done.”
Fit selection
Thorgan Hazard will be back in the selection on Sunday, so PSV has an almost fit selection. A selection that is very wide. That has laid the foundation for the strong series that the people of Eindhoven have put away.
“We have a lot of potential starting players. Then it is important to keep everyone on board. You have to manage that, but you see it in the games. We can tilt games from the bench and that has been the basis for this series, among other things.”