Knowing that PSV can no longer achieve a points record and the championship is within reach, PSV travels to The Hague on Sunday for the away game with ADO. A match, which Phillip Cocu wants to win despite there not being a whole lot left at stake for his team. "We don't live freewheeling toward Sunday," he said.
Pressure off
The head coach told this Friday afternoon at De Herdgang during the press conference. Cocu: "Look the pressure is off, the tension was especially in the weeks leading up to the game with Ajax. But you do play to win. That's also how we trained. It's up to the group to show that they can do that without the tension. Some guys like the fact that it has disappeared. Other players actually need that tension."
Changes
Cocu did not want to reveal his full eleven, but did reveal that he is not going to completely change his team. "Maybe on one or two positions, but the big lines will be the same as earlier this season," said Cocu, who goes into the final two games knowing that PSV will only play for the win. "It's unfortunate that we can't get another points record, the game against Roda JC was very short after all the celebrations. However, we are not going to freewheel to Sunday. We want to win."
Romero
PSV must do so without Luuk de Jong. The attacker who failed in the championship game with Ajax is not yet match fit. Jeroen Zoet has rejoined the group and can defend the goal in The Hague. Maxi Romero, meanwhile, is focusing on next season. "We brought him in to let him get used to the club, the environment, the people here and the way we play, but of course we also hoped he could make minutes."
"It has been very tough for him mentally," Cocu continued. "He came here with great expectations. Just when he could make match minutes, he suffered a setback and had to take two steps back. He had a hard time with that, but fortunately a number of guys took excellent care of him. Of course, we as a staff tried to do the same."