Roger Schmidt had no reason to complain on Tuesday evening after PSV’s resounding 3-0 victory in the third qualifying round of the Champions League against FC Midtjylland. Although the final score was already on the scoreboard on Tuesday after just over half an hour, the trainer was especially proud of ‘the smart second half’ of his team. “In the first half we scored three times, but after the break we kept the opponent under control,” Schmidt said RTL7. “We played very concentrated and gave away almost no chances.”
Schmidt would logically have seen a bigger victory, but thought it was ‘a good sign’ that PSV showed that it was able to control a match. “We worked hard and defended with the whole team.” Moreover, according to Schmidt, it was not as easy an evening as the results suggest. “FC Midtjylland is a difficult opponent to play. They often handle the long ball and are dangerous with throw-ins”, emphasized the German. “But we did a good job and always found the right solution.”
Noni Madueke, the maker of the wonderful first goal, was one of the star players on the PSV side. Schmidt emphasized that the attacker already scored fantastic goals last season. “But he is now a more complete player and works harder for the team. He has grown tactically and helps our backs to win balls”, the German was told by the Eindhovens Dagblad quoted. “Noni has our idea of gene pressing mastered too.”
“It’s different from what he’s showing now compared to last season and he’s now creating chances with good ball conquests. Noni seems to like being on the pitch like this and I’m very happy with what he’s showing now.” The return in Denmark awaits in a week, but the battle for the Johan Cruijff Scale against Ajax is on the program on Saturday. “We have to be ready for that, because we want to take the first prize of the season,” Schmidt looked ahead.
“So now recover quickly and then we will focus on that game and on the return against Midtjylland.” If PSV survive that match without any problems, a diptych awaits in the play-offs with Spartak Moscow or Benfica (17 and 24 August). The play-offs are the last hurdle towards the main tournament of the Champions League, in which PSV last played in 2018.