Head coach Phillip Cocu believes PSV forced the 2-1 win over FC Groningen thanks to willpower. He indicated this at the post-match press conference.
Cocu critical of PSV
"We didn't start the match well. We were not sharp, not alert and did not stand well," Cocu began. "Fortunately our first chance was a hit and after that it became equal. Unfortunately we fail to make it 2-0, because then the game is played I think. That doesn't happen and because of that we still get a hard time. The halftime score was certainly justified. We didn't play at our normal level in the first half. After halftime we came out a lot better and that finally resulted in a goal. In the closing stages we failed to decide the game definitively from the counter. With willpower and the conviction as a team you can also win. This victory was a nice example of that," Cocu concluded.
Reaction Van de Looi
FC Groningen head coach Erwin van de Looi felt that Groningen was equal to PSV. "I think we started excellently, the opening phase was for us. We got two hundred percent chances, from which we should have scored. We didn't succeed and from the first chance it's 1-0. That was a bit of a tick for us and because of that we got into a difficult phase. That eventually led to the penalty kick, which fortunately we survive. We focused and then at the end of the first half we made the equalizer. It was certainly deserved. Until the 2-1, I didn't think anything was wrong. We were at least equal. In terms of the whole game, Groningen was entitled to a point," Van de Looi said.