PSV resumes the Eredivisie on Saturday with a game with Almere City. This is a first, as the two teams have never met in a league match. Head coach Peter Bosz looks ahead to the match against the promoted Flevoland side.
That the team lost to Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night (4-0) was no surprise, according to Bosz. "It was a fair result. They were very good defensively and we gave away a lot of spaces. I'm also honest about that." The Alpeldoorner expressed his admiration for Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta: "He has taken the time to thoughtfully build a strong team, also for longer term. I like watching that."
Injured
And there is good news from the sickbay for Head Coach Peter Bosz's selection. While Armando Obispo is gradually resuming training with the group, Fredrik Oppegård is back to full strength. The left back is deployable at Friday night's match of Young PSV. They kick off against VVV-Venlo at PSV Campus De Herdgang.
Another absentee on Saturday is summer acquisition Armel Bella-Kotchap. The central defender, who has featured in the last two games, will miss the match due to surgery on his wisdom tooth. Besides Armel, the game against Almere also comes too soon for Mauro Júnior. He is still recovering from an injury.
Fatigue
That there are only a few days between the European game and the meeting with Almeren is not an immediate reason for Bosz to rotate in his starting eleven. "Every game there will be a team with which I think I can win. I myself used to love playing several games a week."
Ricardo shows himself
PSV has a striker in good form in Luuk de Jong. He has so far scored four goals in four league matches. Bosz names the good season start of striker, but also emphasizes that the quality of striker Ricardo Pepi, who came over from FC Augsburg this summer, has not escaped him. "On the contrary, in fact. I am very satisfied with Ricardo. He shows himself during training sessions as well as matches. He's just unlucky to have Luuk in front of him."