Gerald Sibon expects PSV to come out on top in the top match against Ajax on Saturday. The former striker of both clubs thinks that the defensive vulnerability will doom the Amsterdam team in their own Johan Cruijff ArenA. Football zone However, he did not only visit Sibon for his predictive gifts. We also asked him about the difference in experiences at both Dutch top clubs.

Sibon wore the Ajax shirt between 1997 and 1999, while he played for PSV between 2004 and 2006. The now 49-year-old Emmen resident knows how to clearly identify the difference between the rivals.

“The climate is different,” he says. “Ajax is very businesslike and hard. Like: we are Ajax, we are the best. Not really humble. PSV also radiated this in my time, but did not show it to the outside world. We didn't flaunt that.”

According to Sibon, the difference is created at the training complex. The Van Kimmenade family, who traditionally manage De Herdgang, would play a major role in this. “They manage everything in the right direction, isolated from the rest. That is very important for such a club.”

'Ajax is so terribly vulnerable defensively'
Although Ajax is steadily climbing the Eredivisie rankings under interim coach John van 't Schip – Sibon's former trainer at Melbourne Heart – Sibon expects a victory for the visitors from Eindhoven. Ajax's defensive vulnerability would be the basis for this.

“The weakness of the defense is Ajax's concern. That makes the difference in matches, as you also saw against Go Ahead and Heracles (2-3 and 2-4 victories for Ajax respectively, ed.). And PSV is on a mission “There are not many who win against this PSV. Ajax can do strange things at home, but they are so terribly vulnerable,” said Sibon.

PSV is still undefeated in the Eredivisie after nineteen rounds. It was on its way to improving the record of most Eredivisie matches without losing points in a row, but went wrong when visiting FC Utrecht (1-1). Ajax has not lost a match in the Eredivisie since Van 't Schip's arrival. The draw was against Almere City FC and PEC Zwolle (both 2-2), but the other nine matches were won.

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