Ziggo Sport analysts fear for PSV’s European campaign and share striking criticism
1 min readPSV had a sluggish start last Sunday on the road at FC Utrecht and after Ruben van Bommel’s equaliser, Peter Bosz’s side dominated the match in De Domstad. In the end, PSV won 1-6 at De Galgenwaard and as a result, PSV travels to Amsterdam on Saturday evening with a good feeling ahead of the top clash against their rivals Ajax.
In addition, next Thursday, September 10 at 18:45, the first match in the Champions League is on the calendar. PSV will play the home match against Shakhtar Donetsk at the home Philips Stadium and is hoping for a good start to the European campaign in 2026/2027.
Former defender and current analyst for Ziggo Sport Khalid Boulahrouz, however, believes that Bosz’s team is not yet ready for the Champions League. Boulahrouz says this in the programme Rondo on Ziggo Sport.
''I don't think so. The last twenty minutes they came free, but before that certain automatismes were still lacking. Everyone is still looking for and finding their way,'' tells the former footballer.
The analyst is also concerned about Ricardo Pepi. ''Pepi is not showing up as an important playmaking target. So no, they have not yet reached the level they identified two years ago'', said Boulahrouz.
Then former PSV player Ruud Gullit steps in. ''What I miss is that big clubs play in such a way that when they accelerate even slightly, they score two goals. Then they take control of the match and let the ball go. Then they lure the opponent'', says Gullit.
The former PSV captain, who turned 64 last Tuesday, therefore believes that fifteen goals in four league matches means nothing. ''That doesn’t interest me. It’s about controlling the match. I’m missing that level of control in a lot of teams. That is the most difficult part'', continues the European champion of 1988.
Finally, the former footballer explains what PSV needs in order to be successful at the European level as well. ''To keep control without wasting energy. If you can do that, then you can do it in Europe too. I’m not bothered about the fact that Ruben van Bommel gets beaten three times. It’s about the ball being passed around. PSG can do that incredibly well, and Bayern and Barcelona can do it very well too,'' Gullit said.
Comments9
Ruud Gullit saying big clubs score 2 fast when they accelerate is facts. With fifteen goals in four games, tbh it still feels like PSV can leak control when the tempo changes. 👀🔥
Eens dat controle lastig is, maar Gullit die PSG, Bayern en Barcelona noemt... prima, maar PSV is toch geen kopie. Wel belangrijk dat Pepi en de hele keten dat rondspelen kunnen zonder energie weg te geven. Dat is de echte test volgende week 🚀
"Pepi geeft als belangrijk aanspeelpunt niet thuis"... imo that is the real worry for Europe. If he cant stick the ball, Shakhtar will punish transitions and PSV will struggle to control games.
15 doelpunten in 4 competitiewedstrijden zegt Gullit niks, en ik ben het oneens maar wel deels. Als we dat tempo ook tegen blokken volhouden, dan komt die controle vanzelf, anders blijft het alleen een counter-verhaal 🔥
Ruud zegt weer iets waar ik de kern wel van voel: grote clubs scoren 2 als ze versnellen en dan krijg je de wedstrijd niet meer terug. Ik hoop dat PSV dat ook laat zien op Europa-avond, anders krijg je paniekvoetbal 👀
"Iedereen is nog zijn weg aan het zoeken en vinden" is precies wat ik ook zag. Dat drukzetten was slordig vroeg, daarna pas die controle pakken. In Champions League betaal je meteen voor dat gedoe 💀
1-6 is nice, but that Ziggo take about automatismen is spot on. First 20 minutes versus Utrecht, you could see PSV still searching their way.
Pepi als aanspeelpunt 'niet thuis' vind ik wel een flinke claim. Tegen Ajax moet hij stappen maken in positie en kaatsmomenten, anders gaat Bosz weer moeten puzzelen in de omschakeling 😬
1-6 zegt genoeg, maar ik snap Boulahrouz wel. Tegen Utrecht kwamen ze pas in de laatste twintig minuten op toeren, tbh dat is te laat tegen Shakhtar/Europa.