Eran Zahavi will be in the starting line-up in the Conference League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday. During the press conference the day before kick-off, PSV coach Roger Schmidt revealed that the Israeli will occupy the striker position. Normally, Schmidt does not make any statements about the line-up before the game, but this time he made an exception.
Last Sunday, Schmidt opted for a vanguard without Zahavi in the Eredivisie game that was won against sc Heerenveen (3-1), while Mario Götze was pushed further forward. In Israel, Zahavi can therefore count on a base place again. It is possible that the 34-year-old striker was given rest to appear fully fit at the kick-off in Tel Aviv. In the first game with Maccabi (1-0 win), Schmidt also chose Zahavi as the deepest attacker.
For once, Schmidt makes an exception regarding the line-up: Zahavi will start at PSV tomorrow.
— Rik Elfrink (@RikElfrink) February 23, 2022
It was also already known that the front line at the Eindhoven residents would be changed to the left wing position. PSV communicated via the official channels that Cody Gakpo has stayed behind in Eindhoven because of the ankle complaints he had after the game against Heerenveen. It is as yet unclear who will take over Gakpo’s honours. Marco van Ginkel and Maxime Delanghe also did not board the plane on Wednesday morning. PSV wrote that the two took a positive PCR test after a previous corona infection. “They have complied with the quarantine obligation,” PSV said. “According to Dutch guidelines, there is no longer any reason for isolation or restrictions, but travel to Israel is only possible with a negative PCR.”
Due to the absences of Dennis Vos, Jenson Seelt, Johan Bakayoko, Ismael Saibari and Kjell Peersman, Schmidt has added five players from Jong PSV to the selection. Érick Gutiérrez is also ‘normal’ in the party: the Mexican midfielder had to go off the field with a stretcher on Sunday, but appears not to have suffered any serious injury. PSV defend a 1-0 lead in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening.
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