ESPN analyst has reservations about PSV players: “Of course, there’s also been a bit of change.”

PSV made a fluctuating impression on Thursday evening during the first match in the UEFA Champions League against the Ukrainian Shakhtar Donetsk (1-1). Peter Bosz’s side went level at 1-1 shortly after halftime, but failed to build on it and therefore both teams had to settle for a draw.

That was also noted by various analysts from sports channel ESPN. In the program Voetbalpraat, the match is discussed in detail afterwards.

In addition, analyst Kees Kwakman has his doubts about some PSV players. Kwakman also points to the changes that took place within the club over the past summer, including the departures of Joey Veerman and Ismael Saibari. ''Of course it’s something of a wait-and-see where PSV stands, from a European perspective. There has of course also been some change this summer in terms of players who have left and come in. I still think the core up front, with Wanner, Til and Pepi, well...'', says the analyst.

''It was not for nothing that last year went so well with Til and Saibari up front. Also in terms of footballing ability. Pepi is really a goal-getter who waits and see, which means that in matches like this you sometimes think, 'is he even involved?'', continues the Volendam native.

Then the analyst points to the midfield. ''And if an opponent applies a bit more pressure than you have to be able to occasionally turn away from your man, as Noah Fernandez can. And Wanner also doesn’t fall to me somehow either. That’s quality, after all'', Kwakman said.

Yet former PSV player and fellow analyst Danny Koevermans also saw a bright spot on the PSV side. ''Today, Kodai Sano showed that he is a worthy successor to Joey Veerman. He did incredibly well,'' concludes De Koef.