One more match to go to end a season that had started dramatically, but ended more successful. PSV got beaten down, got back up on their feet and showed us what the word ‘team’ actually means, resulting in the 24th National Title! Now it’s time to finalize the season with a bang against FC Groningen.
PSV couldn’t win their first match after the Championship game against Ajax, but they also forgot to win their second match. They drew against Roda JC after they had celebrated the Championship for two days, and because of this they saw their chance to achieve a new record of most points in a season pass by. But the week after there were still records to break.
For example, Hirving Lozano could still become top scorer of the Eredivisie, but he left the pitch in the 19th minute because of an injury. Luckily for him he scored the 1-0, but the rest of the team couldn’t keep ADO Den Haag from scoring and both teams netted 3 goals and only took 1 point at the final whistle.
Cocu angry at Isimat
“This is yet again another penalty he created because he grabbed hold of his opponent. “He apparently hasn’t learned from his mistakes, I guess.” is what Cocu said about the foul Nicolas Isimat-Mirin committed on ADO’s striker Bjørn Johnsen. He continues:”This is the kind of player who also uses his hands often, so it goes both ways. But you have to know when you can use your hands and when you can not. Isimat has been playing here for a couple of years now, it’s not his first match, so I would expect from a defender with his experience that he won’t make the same mistake again.” This says a lot about Isimat’s status in the basic eleven for next season already, you could say.
Chucky joins PSV to Barcelona
Most people, especially the Mexicans, got scared when they noticed Lozano left the pitch due to an injury. Luckily it appeared to be a precautionary choice of Cocu: he considered it to be more important for Chucky to stay fit for the World Championship in Russia with the Mexican national team rather than keeping him on the pitch for PSV at this stage of the season. The winger was fit enough to join the selection for a short holiday in Barcelona, a present for the players and a decent way to end a successful season.
Manager offers medal to fan
PSV’s general manager, Toon Gerbrands, made a generous offer: he will donate his medal for this year’s Championship to a supporter. He says: “This is a medal we officially receive from the KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) and I have always shouted that a team effort is something from all of us together. But ‘all of us together’ goes further than only ‘team’, it also includes the supporters, sponsors and so on. So the person who comes up with the nicest, most surprising or most convincing story and sends it to PSV, can have my medal.” Nice gesture, isn’t it?
More money from UEFA
The UEFA arranged new sponsors and so there’s more money for them to spend in both the Champions League and the Europa League. For PSV, this means they get €5.000.000,- simply for participating in the play offs for next season’s Champions League tournament. If they reach the group fase, they’ll get another €30.000.000,- and if they’re still in the tournament after winter break, this amount can go up to €50.000.000,-. If they can’t make it to the Champions League, PSV will be placed in the Europa League tournament, which brings in €15.000.000,-. Good news so far.
Former PSV captain to Champions League final
Georginio Wijnaldum reached the final of the Champions League with Liverpool on wednesday, after losing their match to AS Roma with 4-2. In Liverpool, the local FC beat the Romans with 5-2 the week before, so the difference of 1 goal was enough to move to the final round. Roma played without Kevin Strootman, another former PSV captain, who was too injured to perform. Meanwhile, Wijnaldum scored an important header for Liverpool, his first goal for an English club in an away game.
‘Gini’ and Kevin know each other not only from their time in Eindhoven and the Dutch national team, but in the first place from the Sparta Rotterdam Youth Academy, at which they they both took part between 1997 and 2004. You can watch their best moments for PSV here (Wijnaldum) and here (Strootman) It’s obvious one of them feels happier than the other with how far they’ve reached in their carreers at this moment…
First transfer inked
Technical Manager Marcel Brands finally contracted the left footed defender he wished for so hard. Nick Viergever signed a 4-year contract in Eindhoven, leaving Amsterdam behind, where he played for main rival Ajax for 4 years. On social media, PSV announced the transfer with an inventive video, including footage of several former successful PSV players who also took the edgy step from the one club to the other.
Next opponent: FC Groningen
PSV is playing its last match of the season at home against FC Groningen. The white greens from the North East of the Netherlands had a disappointing season and can only reach for the 10th position on the ranking, or still, sink to the 13th position. Head coach Ernest Faber, who was Phillip Cocu’s assistant from 2012 up to 2015, earlier this year concluded it is better for all parties at FC Groningen to move on after this season.
FC Groningen has some key players that are worth keeping an eye on: Japanese midfielder Ritsu Doan and Jesper Drost and striker Tom van Weert. Together with winger Mimoun Mahi these four field players are good for 31 goals and 15 assists, and took only 5 yellow cards and 1 red this entire season. Goalie Sergio Padt made his debut in the pre-selection of the Dutch national team last year, whilst midfielder Juninho Bacuna is part of the Dutch Under 21 selection and defender Deyovaisio Zeefuik, on loan from Ajax since last winter, also makes a strong impression as right back.
Statistics
PSV played against FC Groningen 112 times throughout their history. PSV scored 219 times in 105 competition matches and conceded 111 goals. PSV won 36 and lost only 3 of their 52 home matches, but dropped 5 points in the last 5: they drew a 0-0 in August 2016 and lost 2-3 in March 2014. The biggest home victory took place on December 12 of 2001, when PSV beat Groningen with 8-0. Watch the resume of that match right here.
Injuries and suspensions
The same names as usual will not appear on Cocu’s list: Ramon Pascal Lundqvist and Maxi Romero are still injured, the rest is most likely fit enough to play. With no one being suspended, Cocu has yet another match where all players are available to chose from. He surely wants to win this last game, so it remains to be seen how much space he will give to new talents to start in the basic eleven.
Official goodbye Pröpper and Locadia
Davy Pröpper moved to Brighton and Hove Albion last summer, and Jürgen Locadia followed him last winter. Both players are doing really well in the Premier League, but have yet to say goodbye to the PSV audience officially. That moment will come this sunday, when they will walk on the pitch during stoppage time. Watch the highlights from their time at PSV here (Pröpper) and here (Locadia).
Match Information
Match: PSV – FC Groningen
Date: Sunday 6 May 2018
Time: 14:30 h
Location: Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
Referee: Ed Janssen
Broadcast: Fox Sports Eredivisie
Tickets: Last ones available through this link
For Eindhoven News: Joey van der Hart
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