Captain Denzel Dumfries put his team's play into perspective after the game against FC Utrecht. The 2-1 win made up for his team's inferior play, he thought. 'Bad games sometimes happen. Fortunately we win,' said the PSV right wing defender.
Butt pinching
"It was pinching the buttocks," Dumfries agreed after being asked a question by FOX Sports reporter Hans Kraay Junior. "It wasn't good, but the 2-0 lead gave us confidence. We tried to take that with us after halftime. It didn't work out, but you have that sometimes. Again: it wasn't good, but fortunately we won. I think we deserved that."
Substitutions
Head coach Roger Schmidt was forced to substitute a lot of standouts in his team in the second half. Philipp Max, Donyell Malen and Mo Ihatteren, among others, went to the side. "They take everyone into account. They do that well," Dumfries thought.
Ihattaren's smile
The story of the match, however, was not the substitutions, but Mohamed Ihattaren's goal. The 18-year-old midfielder claimed the lead role with a brilliant goal. The 2-0. "I am very happy that I was able to score again," said a visibly happy Ihattaren to FOX Sports. "The smile is back. Mo is back. I'm happy. I've been in a slump. Physically and mentally, but that's in the past as far as I'm concerned."
'Schmidt is there for me'
According to Ihatteren, that's thanks in part to his trainer, whom he looked up to after his goal. "I thanked the trainer. I talk to him an awful lot. He shows me what professional life is like. He's been very honest and very hard on me, but he keeps me on my toes. He tells me about the importance of eating and the importance of sleep. He's there for me," Ihatteren said of Schmidt.