Valentijn Driessen slams PSV: 'Fears the worst'

For the Netherlands, the European week in the UEFA Champions League has not started well, with a 5-1 defeat for Feyenoord away at FC Barcelona and a 1-1 draw for PSV at home against Shakhtar Donetsk. That has also not escaped journalist Valentijn Driessen of De Telegraaf.

In his column for that same newspaper, Driessen spares neither PSV nor Feyenoord in Europe. About PSV, the always critical reporter writes that there is no plan B, and attention is also drawn to striker Ricardo Pepi, who was virtually invisible and was ultimately replaced by Sven Mijnans.

''PSV has a lot of trouble playing through a team that sits deep in its own half and erects a defensive wall. Chasing along and following the play is its big weakness. The fact that PSV has no plan B and barely managed to create a chance at home is what makes one fear the worst'', so writes Driessen.

Last season, PSV missed out on the round of 16 partly due to a false start (a 1-3 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise in the opening match). It was then concluded that the Eredivisie had no place in the Champions League. That danger threatens again after the false start by Feyenoord and PSV'', the journalist fears.

Driessen also has his sights set on Feyenoord. ''The school trip syndrome and the Olympic idea that taking part is more important than winning seeped out. So Sem Steijn celebrated as if his honorary goal was the winning one'', writes the ever-critical reporter.

The journalist also has nothing good to say about captain Luciano Valente. ''Captain Luciano Valente found five conceded goals too many, but he enjoyed it. Together with Anis Hadj Moussa, Zechiël and Valente did have a nice action in the match. But for Valente to proclaim that you don't fall short at that level… Then your colleagues may put you on the ground with both feet'', writes Driessen.

Finally, a number of other Feyenoord players also get a battering. ''Leaving aside the dramatic goalkeeper Tjark Ernst and the equally dramatic Javi Lopez, Givairo Read was the biggest disappointment. The much-praised right-back was indeed right when, after the deflection of the million-euro transfer to AS Roma, he said that he still had a lot to learn at Feyenoord'', the journalist said.