Wim Kieft impressed: “He has an incredible goal-scoring instinct”
1 min readThis season Ricardo Pepi, despite his many injuries, had a major role in PSV’s third consecutive league title. In recent weeks, the American is back in the starting lineup ahead of the World Cup and regularly adds his goals.
So Pepi was good for goals in the last four matches against Sparta Rotterdam, PEC Zwolle, Ajax and Go Ahead Eagles. Against the latter club, the striker was good for a goal with his head from a cross by fellow countryman Dest.
For former PSV player Wim Kieft, this was an excellent goal. ''Technically speaking, it was a very good goal'', the former striker tells in the podcast KieftJansenEgmondGijp.
According to Kieft, a 100% fit Pepi this season would have been the clear top scorer in the Eredivisie. "I'm sure that Pepi would have scored 35 if he had played the whole season. He is a class better than Ueda. Honestly, he has an incredible eye for goals," the Amsterdam-born player said.
The former PSV striker also understands that there is a lot of interest from foreign clubs in Pepi. ''I don’t find it so strange that a club like Fulham also sees that,'' concludes Kieft.
Comments6
The Ueda vs Pepi debate is always spicy, but you can't ignore Pepi's instinct. He's the kind of striker that scores from the first real chance, and that header from Dest reminded everyone how clinical he can be.
I get the hype, but 35 goals is a crazy estimate unless you count his misses. He has looked sharp lately though, and being ahead of Ueda in the rhythm of league games is a big difference.
I like Pepi a lot, but I'm not fully buying the "35 with ease" thing. PSV also create goals as a team, and Ueda has had his moments too, so calling him clearly worse feels a bit too black-and-white.
Kieft saying he'd have made 35 if fit sounds bold but I get the point. If you look at the chances he gets, he seems to be in the right place at the right time, and Dest's assist for that header was pure quality.
Pepi just keeps showing up when it matters. That header off Dest is exactly the kind of striker threat we need, and Kieft saying he has an insane goal instinct sounds bang on.
Pepi being back in the starting XI has changed everything up front. That run of goals against Sparta, PEC, Ajax and Go Ahead Eagles is honestly huge, especially with how often he had injuries this season.