After a busy start to the season, the first match of the Eredivisie is scheduled this weekend. In Overijssel, Heracles Almelo awaits as PSV's first opponent. Head coach Roger Schmidt looks ahead to the match.
The next game
PSV already has five official games under its belt, so for Schmidt it doesn't feel like the season is just about to start now. Still, the Head Coach is looking forward to the season opener: "I'm glad it's going to start. The Eredivisie is our daily work. Normally we roll into it from season preparation but now we have been at it for a while. Still, we have to show the first game that we are ready. If you ask me what the most important match is, I will always say 'the next one'."
Ambition
Ambition is high this football year, even the Head Coach feels that. After the meeting in Almelo, the match against Benfica soon awaits, but Schmidt does not let that fool him: "We are always ambitious. The championship, getting to the Champions League, we have to go all the way. The playoffs are 'on hold' for the Eredivisie for now. But after Saturday, our focus will go to Portugal."
Orange
Just before the press conference, good news came from Zeist for a number of PSV players. Joël Drommel and Cody Gakpo are part of the Dutch national team's pre-selection. Fodé Fofana also debuted in the pre-selection for Jong Oranje after his official PSV debut. Gakpo made his first orange minutes at the European Championship, for Drommel his debut is yet to come, but Schmidt is optimistic: "Joël is just playing very well. He is brave and is showing his qualities more and more often. I don't find it a surprise that he is in the pre-selection."