Today the league match against Feyenoord was scheduled for PSV O12. PSV traveled to Rotterdam as the proud leaders, with 1 more point than Feyenoord, although the Rotterdammers have played one less match. But a win would keep the PSV boys in the lead, and they could take distance from the rest.
A real winner. These are the games for which this competition was created, from such games the players can only get better. And for the trainers a good opportunity to see where the team stands in relation to the direct competition.
Today it was clearly visible that Feyenoord is further ahead than PSV in this age group. Faster, more fight, shorter cover, faster switching, passion, better passing in all these facets Feyenoord was better today. So now it is to determine why are they in Rotterdam in all these facets further than in Eindhoven, is the mentality in the Randstad then more driven as in Brabant. On the pitch it was clearly visible that Feyenoord's players were already a bit bolder and did not let the cheese eat away at them so easily. But the advantage is that the staff have seen it now and can start working on it, there will be more games like this in the rest of the season and then we will have to see that PSV make progress.
Up until the 10th minute, both teams were trying to get to grips with each other, the game mainly played in midfield, with both teams playing well and losing the ball unnecessarily. In the 10th minute, the otherwise well-flowing referee awarded an easy penalty to Feyenoord. 1-0 and from then on Feyenoord showed they were better. Not that PSV did not feature in the play at all, PSV also showed good football at times. In the 19th minute the 2-0 was scored by a wonderful long-distance shot that Kevin was unable to keep out. This was followed by the 3-0 on the scoreboard before half-time through a goal from a corner.
In the break the coach said that in matches like this more is asked of the players, that they have to act faster and that they don't get time to just take a ball and look around, no, before the ball arrives they have to know what the next step is.
In the second half the same picture as before the break, a brighter and better Feyenoord, just a bit more eager and always going for the game 100%. This led to the 4-0 in the 48th minute. The score could have been even higher had it not been for the attentive goalkeeping of Lander. In the 51st minute PSV got the deserved goal Martijn managed to find the far corner with a dry slide 4-1. This was the final score.
After this match the PSV players know again where they stand, and that there is still a lot of work to do. But also a learning moment in the training to become a top player.
For the coach again a lot of attention points to be worked on, and that will certainly happen, the coming week there will certainly be attention for this match during training. All in all a good lesson in the training to top footballer. Next Saturday against Roda Jc the boys can show again that it was a good lesson today, and that they have learned something. I expect a highly motivated PSV 012 against the Limburg guys.