Despite a "thin" defense, head coach Roger Schmidt and playmaker Mario Götze assign PSV good chances against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The duo looked ahead Wednesday afternoon at Philips Stadium. With respect for the opponent, but also with self-confidence. 'We are motivated to compete for the prizes on three fronts.'
Starting position
"Maccabi is a strong team. They are in European matches almost every year," Schmidt spoke respectfully at the press conference about the team from Israel. "They are used to playing big matches. Every year Maccabi plays for the top spots in the national league. We have to prepare for two tough matches. The important thing is to create a good starting position tomorrow in our own stadium in front of our fans."
Motivation
Mario Götze thinks PSV can end the season in a nice way. "We are still active on three fronts. We started in the Champions League, played some nice games in the Europa League and now we can start preparing for the games in the Conference League. I am personally very much looking forward to tomorrow's game. You want to show yourself at the highest possible level, the European games are always nice occasions. We have to see how far we can get in this tournament. In any case, the team spirit is good. We are motivated to compete for prizes on three fronts," Götze said.
Absentees
PSV will be without injured players André Ramalho, Ryan Thomas and Maxi Romero tomorrow. The trio Olivier Boscagli, Carlos Vinícius and Ibrahim Sangaré are suspended. Schmidt is confident other players will step up. "Due to circumstances, the flush is a bit thinner. Especially at the back, it is hoped that there will be no new injuries tomorrow. I am convinced that Jordan Teze and Armando Obispo will give a good performance in the heart of the defense tomorrow. They have shown that on several occasions."
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