Club icons Willy and René van de Kerkhof are very enthusiastic about PSV. “I was there in Alkmaar and I had barely sat down and it was already 3-0,” Willy exults. “I’ve never seen them look so good, I honestly mean that.” Brother René even goes so far as to say that he thinks today’s PSV is stronger than the teams that won European Cups for the Eindhoven team in 1978 and 1988. Not that he expects PSV to win the Champions League this season, but he does see opportunities in the eighth final against Borussia Dortmund.
René would actually have preferred to draw Manchester City in the eighth finals of the Champions League, René said in the Willy and René Podcast of Omroep Brabant. “Isn’t it wonderful to compete against such a team?” But to advance a round, the former right winger had two other opponents in mind. “Barcelona has been so weak in recent weeks and Borussia Dortmund is a nice alternative to progress one round.” And his prayers were answered: Borussia Dortmund emerged from the draw.
Only for your own success
How far PSV can go in Europe remains to be seen. PSV is currently untouchable in its own country. “You saw it against AZ from the kick-off,” says Willy. “The whole of PSV immediately came forward and in no time there were 21 men in AZ’s half. At the moment things are going so well that they can easily maintain that pressure for ninety minutes. Then you don’t get tired. I don’t think they had to take a shower after the match.”
Willy did see one dissonance at PSV. “That’s Johan Bakayoko. He only wants to go for his own success, even if someone else is in a better position.” René doesn’t think that’s a problem. “Isn’t that what you’re a striker for?” To which Willy immediately responds. “Yes, I know, I’ve seen you before. I had a brother who always shot at goal! And when Bakayoko does give a pass, it’s bad. No, he’s not a real team player yet.”
Most annoying fag
In addition to PSV, René also enjoyed Ajax’s match against PEC Zwolle, and not even because of the Amsterdam team’s loss of points. “That Steven Berghuis, I find him the most irritating fagot walking around on the fields. That he missed such a huge opportunity. I can really enjoy that. Berghuis is a beautiful football player, but he is so irritating, he doesn’t actually have that necessary. I’m glad he doesn’t play here. He won’t join us either.”
PSV will play one more match in 2023 in its own stadium next Thursday and that is for the cup against FC Twente. A situation that is somewhat reminiscent of 1977 when the brothers with PSV were also undefeated at the top and just before Christmas they lost 6-1 at home for the cup against first divisionist FC Wageningen, which now no longer even exists. “But that’s really not going to happen now,” assures Willy. However, in the podcast the brothers briefly return to the defeat against Wageningen.