Steven Berghuis points to PSV
1 min readThey’re almost there. Only FC Utrecht still needs to be beaten. Ajax is almost a participant in the Conference League qualifying round. To be precise, the second qualifying round of the Conference League. That means entering somewhere around July 20 in that second qualifying round.
However only if they win against FC Utrecht on Sunday, and that is still quite a challenge. Steven Berghuis is also aware of this; in recent days he again made it clear that it was partly thanks to PSV that Ajax could still make a move in the final league match against SC Heerenveen. In the end it didn’t pay off, because the Amsterdam side no longer managed to get past FC Twente.
According to Valentijn Driessen, Berghuis spoke highly of the sporting duty that PSV managed to fulfill against FC Twente. “That said Steven Berghuis after Heerenveen, that he really had a lot of respect for that, that PSV simply did its sporting duty. Only Ajax didn’t… No, but he was still very realistic about it,” Driessen said.
'He congratulated NEC and FC Twente. But PSV has done that very nicely', Berghuis shouted about the results of the last matchday. 'I had to say, I also had to laugh at Peter Bosz—not really a big cabaret performer—but in this case it was very funny that they’ve also evolved to the point where they go to Ibiza every month', said Driessen with a grin.
For PSV there was little more at stake, but FC Twente proved to be hopeless. 'Even in Enschede they noticed it again: this season's PSV was far too good for the Dutch league. 'If the Eindhoven side really turns up the gas, there is simply no stopping them,' the national media concluded. Valentijn Driessen agreed. And Berghuis? He said he respected them, but he still had to cancel his holiday due to the play-off matches against FC Groningen and on Sunday FC Utrecht.
Comments17
"PSV Inside" really nailed it on the balance between control and risk. When the 8 steps forward, you can feel the press trap working, and then the 10 finds the pocket. That said, we need the back line braver on the ball or it turns into unnecessary fouls. 🚀
"Control in the build-up" is fine, but i want intensity in the final third too. That last sequence looked mid, no killer pass, and the striker was too isolated. Idk how many times we can recycle the ball before it becomes painful 💀
Tbh i dont buy the hype around the new setup yet. The wing play looked better, sure, but without more support for the fullbacks we are too easy to isolate in wide areas. Also, lets not pretend our finishing is consistently on, because that killed us in the last stretch. 👀
"PSV Inside" or not, if we are not clinical in the box, this turns into another frustrating night. Still, that intensity at home is pure electricity, lets gooooo. ⚽🚀
PSV need that tempo from the wings. When they slow down, it becomes predictable and you see it in the chances... zero urgency. Bring the chaos, we are at home 🔥🚀
Tbh the tactical shift sounds smart, but i want to see it under pressure, not just in calm phases. Against a strong team, we need the midfield to stay connected or itll get stretched badly 💀
Man, the quote about "control in the build-up" sounds nice but we have to see it under pressure. If the fullbacks keep stepping up without a plan, teams will just hit the half-spaces and punish us 😅. Imo the defensive midfield has to stay glued to the second ball.
If the article is right about PSV going more direct in transition, i love it... but only if the midfield actually protects the counter. Right now teams with pace will just pin Sangare and turn that press into chaos. 🔥
That midfield setup feels a bit too safe, lots of sideways passes, not enough vertical risk. You can see it makes the game predictable for the opposition. Frustrating because we have the legs to go faster. 🙄
Goal!! thats all i needed. If the front line keeps running channels like that, defenders cant breathe, and our pressing turns into goals 🔥⚽
Lately im not convinced by the fullback positioning. The article mentions the overlap, but if they dont tuck in fast enough, our midfield gets dragged wide and it turns into chaos.
Tbh, im not buying the hype around the latest winger quote. He looks good when he has space, but when fullbacks stay narrow, he disappears. I want Gakpo or Tillman to be more involved in build-up. 💀
"We want to control the ball and dictate the tempo" is the right idea, but it needs better decision making in the final third. Mad how many times we slow it down then panic pass.
"Inside PSV" showing that X-factor from the half-spaces is exactly what we need. But i still think we lack a real plan B if teams sit deep. We need more than just wing entries. 🔥
If PSV went for that high press again, i actually get it. But if the midfield gets bypassed once, you get exposed so fast. Tbh Luuk might need to be cleaner on those cover runs.
If PSV go with that same high line again, im worried about the counters. Love the press, but if the midfield doesnt cover, it will get ugly real quick. 👀
If PSV are pressing like the article suggests, thats gonna force turnovers early. But i really hope it doesnt leave space in behind for the counter, thats where we usually get punished.