Head coach Roger Schmidt will begin the final phase of the season with PSV on Sunday. After three busy months in a row, ten games remain in the Eredivisie, in which he and his team are certain to reach UEFA Champions League football. 'We didn't always get what we deserved.'
Form
PSV's football is taking shape, Schmidt believes. The German sees that, despite the shaky results, his team understands better and better what is asked of its style of play. "We played quite a few games in recent weeks, in which we performed well. I think the team didn't always get what it deserved, but that's not just due to luck or bad luck. We had enough opportunities in the games against Olympiacos FC, ADO Den Haag and Ajax to decide the game in our favor. Each time we failed to do so," he analyzed ahead of Sunday's game with Fortuna Sittard.
Inexperience
That PSV has not been able to turn the "doubt duels" into a victory a bit more often is partly due to the inexperience of his team Schmidt thinks. "Experienced teams don't happen to something like that. They 'kill' a match. Of course we also get a goal too easily and we see that those goals are preventable, but it goes wrong in deciding games earlier."
Learning
Against Olympiacos FC, for example, the post in the 86th minute prevented an almost certain passage into the UEFA Europa League. "What pleases me is to see that even after a disappointment as big as the elimination in Europe, the team is right there again against another good opponent," Schmidt said. "That the ball is not yet in our court, even though we deserve it, is part of the process we are in. We have to learn not to end up in those situations again."
Tactical
PSV's players had some rest at the beginning of the week. The past two days were spent focusing on the tactical picture and starting today (Friday) the team shifts its focus to the match against Fortuna Sittard. According to Schmidt, it is still unclear whether Pablo Rosario - who sat out against Ajax with a minor injury - is in the selection. An additional advantage is that with Olivier Boscagli he has an option in midfield. The Frenchman made a strong impression twice last week as a replacement for the suspended Ibrahim Sangaré.
Boscagli
"Tactically, Olivier is very strong," Schmidt said. "He can defend well, pass well and thus has an impact on our game. He also had that as a defender. The future will tell which spot is best for him and which position is best for the team. I haven't decided what that is yet."
Ihattaren
Schmidt was additionally asked once again about the situation surrounding Mohamed Ihattaren. "I already explained the situation several times last week," he spoke. "Ihattaren was not in the selection because I felt he did not behave professionally around the game with Olympiacos FC. Last Friday I told that to the selection as well and in doing so I immediately indicated that he would rejoin the team training after the game with Ajax. That went off without a hitch. I have 27 players in my squad and he simply has to show that he belongs among the best eleven. That applies to everyone and he has done that several times this season. Right now Mario Götze and Ryan Thomas are showing to be in good form. Soon Noni Madueke and Cody Gakpo will return to the selection and therefore the competition will increase. Mo has a lot of talent and will have to show that he is the better of them," said Schmidt, who does not expect to be able to call on Mauro Junior this season. The Brazilian has been injured.