On Saturday evening, Ernest Faber looked back on his first week as interim coach with a good feeling. The coach saw PSV get a tick early on against PEC Zwolle, but excellent response: 'It was a super tough week.'
Scare
After 12 minutes, Mustafa Saymak gave PSV's coach another scare by putting the visitors up 0-1. "Certainly in the beginning it was a bit stiff and uncertain," Faber said. "Doubting from the back, but that's not so surprising after this week. Of course in the cup we got away well so after the 0-1 it was waiting to see how things went. I think we responded well. We showed resilience and saw some nice goals."
'Nice to go home'
That was handsome, Faber thought, given the week. "It was super difficult this week. A compliment to all the players and staff who stepped up. Now everyone needs to go home, celebrate the holidays, freshen up the heads and then we will work really hard in Qatar."
Thanks from Afellay
Captain Ibrahim Afellay filled in for the second time this week and where he had to be relieved last Wednesday, now he was especially happy with PSV's victory. After the match, he thanked the supporters. "It was not an easy half year for you and us. We want to thank you for the support you have always given in spite of that," Afellay began. "We are happy that we were able to close with a win and hope we can make it a good second half of the season. Very happy holidays, a very good end and thank you very much again."
Gakpo: 'Stayed together'
Cody Gakpo provided the final chord on Saturday night. The striker scored a beautiful goal by putting the PEC Zwolle defense to shame after a slalom. After Mohamed Ihattaren's 2-1, it was the second beautiful goal of the evening. Which goal was more beautiful? "Mine of course," Gakpo said with a smile on FOX Sports after which he also praised Ihattaren. "That was also a beauty as you always say. And an important one," said the Eindhoven native who was then asked for his take on the match, which was good at phases and a bit trickier at times. "You have several phases in a match, but I think we stayed well together. We never felt like we were going to lose this match. It's nice to be able to go into the vacations like this."