Less than 24 hours after the kickoff of Granada - PSV, the focus is already back on the Eredivisie. With six games in sixteen days, the team still has a tough schedule ahead of them before the winter break. Besides looking ahead, the press conference also looks back at the Europa League game.
'Fighting spirit'
"We showed against Granada that we learned our lessons from the previous games in the Europa League. The team worked hard and we played good football. The 'fighting spirit' at the end of the match showed how good the mentality in the team is," are the words of Roger Schmidt, who is content with the win over Granada. The head coach is happy that the pressure is slightly off and thanks Omonia Nicosia for their help against PAOK Saloniki. "One of our goals has now been achieved. We will do everything we can to be first in the pool, but the focus can go to the league and the cup."
Traditionally tough
Because the day after tomorrow, PSV travels to Friesland again, for the encounter with number six sc Heerenveen. Schmidt polled Jorrit Hendrix about the traditionally tough away game in Friesland. "Jorrit has never won there, he said, so it will be tough," the coach told me. He does see the qualities of sc Heerenveen and is prepared for a difficult duel: "Heerenveen is a good team that masters counter football well with fast outfielders and a strong striker. But again on Sunday there are ninety minutes in which we have to show that we are the better team." Whether Schmidt can call on Denzel Dumfries, Noni Madueke and Eran Zahavi is still uncertain. They all dropped out against Granada with injuries.
Motivated
Also discussed briefly was Mo Ihattaren. Despite being out of action the past few games, he is tremendously motivated, Schmidt indicated. "He's training well and I'm looking forward to seeing him play again." That could just happen Sunday against sc Heerenveen. Sunday, that's where the focus is right now, because the PSV coach doesn't want to know anything yet about all the matches ahead. "It makes no sense to look six games ahead. We have to approach it from match to match. Our focus is on Sunday."