'PSV must hope for slip up'

'PSV must hope for slip up'
3 min

Which media have players and trainers spoken to? What happens behind the scenes and how do former PSV players fare? PSV is a topic of conversation. Always and everywhere. The editors of www.psv.nl read everything and select biweekly reports that you do not want to miss.

Candles burning
The Eindhovens Dagblad saw Sunday that PSV had enough chances to keep the title race somewhat exciting. But because the team missed many opportunities and "only" won 2-1 against De Graafschap, it can forget about a "goalscoring title. "PSV misses thirteen goals and has entered a phase where the team itself has to win everything and can silently burn candles to energize Ajax's opponents," writes Rik Elfrink in his match analysis.

De Graafschap coach in the breach for Van Bommel
The goal difference has been a hot topic in the press in recent days. In his preview Mark van Bommel still nuanced that, nevertheless the newspapers and internet pages were full of it and that in turn bothered De Graafschap coach Henk de Jong. "Mark doesn't call this out. But I am touched by those stories," De Jong said. "Get a grip I think," he told FOX Sports. Van Bommel himself agreed with his colleague. "We didn't talk about the goal difference, that happened in the media. I was only asked if you can put up a big result. Then I said that that is possible and that the Dutch national team once won 11-0 from San Marino, but I immediately added that De Graafschap is not San Marino," the head coach said at the press conference.

De Jong equals best season total
Luuk de Jong was worth his weight in gold for PSV yesterday by netting the 2-1 in the 73rd minute. The captain was not very comfortable in the match, missed a few chances himself but was once again PSV's victorious man. Moreover, it was his 26th goal of the season, equaling his best ever season total. "Beautiful, but I can keep repeating it: for me the title is the most important thing," said the Eredivisie's top scorer.

Keep believing
And to actually win that title, PSV must continue to believe in it, according to the captain. The outcome of this season, meanwhile, bears some similarities to the denouement of the 2015-2016 season, when Ajax and PSV also fought such a neck-and-neck race. It was then PSV that tied in points with Ajax in Round 31, who, as is the case now, had the advantage of a significantly better goal difference. "Then we were able to see what crazy things can still happen on such a final matchday," he told De Telegraaf. "We already talked about that in the dressing room," De Jong continued. "We made it clear to the other guys that you have to keep believing in it. You always have another chance. We were able to see that then."