Jordi Clasie: 'PSV can afford it'
1 min readValentijn Driessen does see him at Ajax, setting the lines in midfield. The critic at De Telegraaf is of the opinion that Clasie should in any case be taken by Ronald Koeman to the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, but that really doesn’t seem to be on the cards anymore.
Clasie in fact does not feel fit enough for international football, aside from the fact that he does not wish to leave his family alone for six weeks. In the past few weeks, Clasie has been much in the news after he managed to celebrate victory with AZ in the final of the KNVB Cup. Clasie was also a guest this week on vp. There, too, it was about his future.
Clasie admits to having doubted a lucrative adventure in the Middle East. Clasie negotiated concretely and with the intention to close the deal with Al-Wahda FC from the United Arab Emirates, and was offered a multi-million salary, but ultimately decided to sign a new contract with AZ after all. However, the playmaker doubted it enormously given the massive offer he received.
"Then you're talking about millions of euros you can earn, per year," Clasie said about the offer from the Middle East. "That was last year in the winter, when I also really spoke with them concretely via FaceTime. That was about a month and a half, fifteen, ago. It was about Al-Wahda FC, from the United Arab Emirates. That it really involves a lot of money is pretty clear. Only PSV can afford it," Clasie said about the enormous offer, referring to the salaries offered in the Netherlands.
Comments18
This feels like one of those tactical upgrades that can change a season. I hope the coach gives the same intensity at home too, not only in the big matchups.
As a PSV fan, I enjoyed the tactical angle, especially the emphasis on transitions. If they nail the timing after winning the ball, that will be the difference in tight matches.
Interesting read, but I think PSV still need a bit more threat from central areas. The buildup is nice, but in the final third I want to see quicker combinations, not just patience.
Love the way PSV are shaping games this season. The focus on the team's tempo and fitness is spot on, you can feel it in the last 20 minutes when other sides start fading.
Honestly, the biggest thing for me is the confidence in the pressing. When the team jumps together, the whole atmosphere changes. Keep that intensity, and the results will follow.
I'm not fully convinced. Great that they kept creating chances, but we still looked shaky defending transitions. If they want consistency, the fullbacks have to stay braver in structure, not just in attack.
Props to PSV for having clear roles. The way the article describes the buildup from the back made it sound less chaotic, more controlled.
I'm not convinced about relying on individual moments. Against bigger sides, you need the whole team to create chances, not just one genius run.
Honestly, I just want to see the intensity from the start. The article mentions sticking to the game plan, but PSV also need that first-half edge to break the match open. If we start slow again, it will be a long night.
I'm not fully convinced by the praise for the wide play. Sometimes it feels like we overhit the crosses and end up giving the ball away too cheaply.
The bit about the midfield balance is spot on. When PSV can control the second balls, the front three actually gets proper service instead of scraps.
If PSV really got their pressing right, that feels like the biggest difference. The article saying the midfield were brave on the ball makes sense, you could see how calmer they looked after winning it.
Super interesting read, especially the bit about Xavi Simons being the spark. When he slows the game down then turns, PSV look way more dangerous.
I like that the article points out how the full-backs push higher, but I worry about the space behind them. If the wingers dont track back, teams will punish that all day.
Not sure I buy the talk about the midfield balance yet. If the double pivot sits too deep, we end up chasing the ball and the wings get isolated. Against stronger teams, that can get punished fast.
I actually liked the bit about PSV being brave in build-up. When they can pull defenders out with those quick switches, it feels like we play with pace instead of hope. More of that, please.
If PSV actually stick to this press structure, it could finally look like they have a plan for the second ball. The midfield balance sounds promising, not just vibes.
I like how the article focused on the defensive structure, because PSV have looked way more stable lately. If they keep building from the back and not panic, they'll be dangerous all season.