PSV achieved a historic comeback against Sevilla (2-3) in the Champions League on Wednesday evening thanks to the impetus of several substitutes, the Dutch press concluded on Thursday morning. The morning newspapers are full of praise for Ismaël Saibari, Ricardo Pepi and Yorbe Vertessen, while Peter Bosz can also count on compliments for his exchange policy.
The Eindhoven team faced a 2-0 deficit immediately after the break. The big turning point turned out to be the stupid red card for Lucas Ocampos. After this, the overall picture of the game changed and Ismael Saibari, Nemanja Gudeld (own goal) and Ricardo Pepi scored the three Eindhoven goals.
“The miracle of Seville, PSV celebrates a fiesta,” headlines The Telegraph a day after the sensational victory in Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. Journalist Jeroen Kapteijns also credits Bosz. “Not only did fortune help PSV, but Bosz also ensured that his team could take the initiative in the match. He controlled the game with attacking substitutions.
“Under Bosz, PSV is eliminating one year of frustration after another,” says Kapteijns. “Qualification for the group stage of the Champions League was already experienced as a liberation after three failed qualifications in the previous seasons.” Because Arsenal did not have a child against RC Lens (6-0) later in the evening, PSV also managed to qualify for the eighth finals of the billion dollar ball for the first time since 2015.
Maarten Wijffels of the Algemeen Dagblad also saw PSV experience a historic evening in Seville. The journalist also points out that the match turned around due to Ocampos’ stupid red card. “Of course that was a key moment and a gift from heaven for PSV. But the remontada that followed must also be the fault of the substitutes at PSV. And therefore on the trainer’s substitution policy.”
“The substitutions gave PSV grip and poison again,” Wijffels writes. “And not for the first time. Whether it is against Vitesse, against Ajax or in the first leg against Sevilla, when PSV also fought back from a deficit: something happens when fresh blood comes into the field.”
Rik Elfrink, club watcher of the Eindhovens Dagblad, also believes that Bosz can thank some outstanding players. “Unknown. Exciting. Bizarre. Insane. Incredible. Unimaginable. Epic. Just a selection of the opinions that were expressed last night after the match between PSV and Sevilla.”
“Afterwards, Bosz could first and foremost thank his reserves, because they made the difference for PSV. And not for the first time. The strength of the bench has often been praised at PSV this season, because in almost every position there is an excellent replacement ready to replace basic players. Only a logical ‘reserve six’ is not immediately available,” says Elfrink.