The end of the league is approaching with races. April is a full month for PSV. Mark van Bommel's team plays six matches until the 28th. Starting at home against PEC Zwolle next Thursday. Dirk Marcellis, who started and ended his career as a PSV player in Zwolle, knows better than anyone else how exciting the last weeks of the premier league are when you are fighting for the title.
New occupation
Dirk Marcellis was forced to stop playing football this season. A long-term knee injury made him decide to hang up his football boots. But when asked how he is doing, the former PSV player answers cheerfully: "I am doing well. I'm really enjoying myself at PEC Zwolle." By this he is referring to his new job. Marcellis completed his HBO studies in entrepreneurship and management in December. Now he is working as an account manager for the Zwolle-based club. "It was a conscious choice for me not to be on the training field, but to work behind the scenes."
Championship year 2008
The central defender became champion once during his time as a PSV player. That happened in the 2007-2008 season. "It was a hectic season," Marcellis looks back. "We started with Ronald Koeman as coach. In October, however, he left and went to work for Valencia. Then Jan Wouters, then working as assistant coach, was appointed interim coach. Finally, Sef Vergoossen came to finish the season. I played all the games after the winter break. It was a great season."
'You have to stay yourself '
In the final games of that season, PSV dropped points against N.E.C. and FC Twente, among others. "You often see strange results so close to the end of the league," Marcellis said of that period. "The last few weeks are exciting. Of course the championship sometimes haunts your mind then. That's hard to banish. And FC Twente and N.E.C. had good teams back then. The most important thing is that you just stay yourself and assume your own strength. Even after a lesser result."
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So Mark van Bommel's team should do just that against Marcellis' PEC Zwolle. "PSV will be fierce and aggressive Thursday," thinks the former international. "I think we will try to play football like we have been doing all season. With well-kept football trying to take the points." Nevertheless, Marcellis also sees PSV as favorites. "It's that PSV lost the game last Sunday, but they could have won it too. The gap is now two points. They have to hold it and continue as they did. The most important thing is that they don't let themselves get crazy. And if it doesn't run, sometimes of course you still have that last minute...," Marcellis concluded with a smile.
Dirk Marcellis as a player of PSV