This was Ismael Saibari’s personal highlight of the season
1 min readIsmael Saibari, after a mediocre start to the season, had an excellent year with the third league title in a row and a significant role in the coaching of Peter Bosz. This ultimately resulted in the midfielder being chosen by VoetbalPrimeur and De Telegraaf as Player of the Year.
In a conversation with VoetbalPrimeur, Saibari looks back on his season at PSV. With Saibari as one of the key cogs, PSV crowned themselves this season as the earliest Eredivisie champions ever.
Even in the Champions League, the Moroccan international was of great value despite PSV not making it through the League Phase. So Saibari scored the equalizer against Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1-1), he contributed a goal against Napoli (6-2), and he managed to score a world-class goal against FC Bayern München (1-2).
Nevertheless, Saibari chooses the hat-trick in De Kuip in the top-of-the-table clash against Feyenoord (2-3) as his personal highlight. ''I saw that not very many people have done that,'' the midfielder tells editor Brecht Versluis of VP.
Still, the modest Saibari also emphasizes the team aspect of PSV. ''You can only win an individual award in a team context. I’ve done it, of course. I think we did very well together as a squad and I did too as an individual. I’m very happy,'' concludes the midfielder.
Comments16
🔥🔥🔥 Crazy how the link-up looked when the fullback underlapped. But honestly, if they let the other team switch play that easy, all that good pressing becomes pointless. Fr, tighten the distances and we are flying.
Not sure i buy the hype around the tactical switch. It can work, but only if the fullbacks arent caught high and exposed. Otherwise, you get the same defensive problems PSV have had before, just in a different formation.
"Keep it simple" is fine, but we are PSV... we need risk in the final third. If Sangare (or whoever the anchor is) doesnt get forward-support, the attacks will die on the half-turn. Need more runs behind the last line, not just possession.
Goal!! the way he got in front of his marker was pure football IQ, no cap 🔥⚽
"PSV have to win the duels" man that is the whole story. If they do it, its a statement. If they dont, its gonna be chaos. 🔥
No surprise the article focuses on the fullbacks, but PSV must do more than just overlap. When the right back steps up, the winger has to go inside immediately, otherwise its predictable. If that clicks, we cook. 💯
"We need to be brave in possession." ok sure, but bravery without composure is just gambling. Get the ball through the half-spaces quicker, dont recycle it all the time. That will free up our wingers. 🔥
Wat een chaos zeg... but i get it. If he is starting that winger inverted, it should create overloads centrally. Still, i want better decisions from the 8 when the fullback steps up, too many times they delay one pass.
Wijnaldum level control or not, that build-up looked a bit shaky... 👀 We cannot keep inviting pressure at the 6 yard line.
I actually like the thought process behind the midfield shape. But if the article is implying they can rely on one creator, thats risky, because teams will overload the half-spaces on the counter. 👀
Opvallend dat they talk about the "game management" as the key. tbh, if we are 1-0 up and still slow the tempo, thats how you get punished. Need urgency when they switch play fast.
If PSV really go for that high press again, it can be scary. But if the build-up gets rushed, teams will just play through Dumfries side fast. Hope they keep the midfield screen tight, because last match it was too easy.
That substitution call was questionable to me, especially moving the shape when we were starting to build momentum. We win more duels when the fullbacks stay connected, not when they get stretched 🤡
If PSV really want to control games, that midfield spacing has to be tighter. I love how they try to play forward, but tonight it looked a bit open behind the ball 🧐
If PSV insist on playing out from the back like in the article, I just hope they cover the press better. Otherwise it turns into turnovers in our half and then we suffer. Especially with the way their midfield jumps passing lanes.
If PSV want to keep control in big games, theyve gotta start faster. The way the article mentions the pressing triggers sounds like the key, but i worry they drop off after 20 minutes.