PSV came close to reaching the last sixteen of the Europa League on Thursday-evening, but had to deal with a sledgehammer when Hassan Koke put the 2-1 on the scoreboard on behalf of Olympiacos in the 88th minute. After the 4-2 defeat in Greece, the margin was too small for PSV to advance to the next round. The Dutch media saw a well-playing PSV, in which Olivier Boscagli, Nick Viergever and Mario Götze in particular stood out positively.
Roger Schmidt was forced to replace the suspended Ibrahim Sangaré and chose to move Boscagli to midfield. That choice was successful according to, for example Algemeen Dagblad excellent. “Olivier Boscagli, normally the man who leads the build-up as a central defender with velvet technique”, knows AD. “An extra ‘footballer’ in the midriff. And in the back of the Frenchman’s place, now the experience of Nick Viergever, who yesterday played his 83rd European game for a Dutch club. Both played excellent, Boscagli and Viergever, in a team. that took the initiative from the start. “
“There was movement, there was a collective idea of applying pressure and, above all, there was much-needed depth in the game. It had been played for fifteen minutes and Malen had already sprinted three times in the space behind the Greek defense. Something that the PSV striker had. last week in Piraeus never did. ” It did not lead to goals immediately, because Malen and Zahavi missed their first chances. “But it was clear: it had to be done like this more often. And it was like this more often. Boscagli, the star of the evening, easily passed balls through lines. Götze took PSV by the hand with his cleverness. He also kept possession of the ball surrounded by two. or three opponents Rosario had his usual moments of incomprehensible loss of possession, balls hit the crossbar and the post, but it seemed as if PSV simply refused to capitulate Until the fatal 88th minute Day spot in the eighth finals Hello tomcat. “
De Volkskrant mentions that PSV has been plagued by injuries in the last two months. Schmidt could not have access to the injured Cody Gakpo, Noni Madueke, Mario Götze in the crucial January full of top players. Without the trio of dribblers PSV lost their depth and creativity, although Schmidt could call on the returned Götze in the diptych with Olympiakos . ”
The return of the experienced German helped PSV, according to the newspaper. “Flashes of his surplus quality were visible, although the creative ideas for rest came mainly from Olivier Boscagli. As controller in midfield, he was the lubricant of last weeks of rusty position play of PSV. His cross passes to the other side of the game were nice. Viergever, mainly reserve this season, turned out to be a resting point in PSV’s much-criticized defense with his experience. “
It Eindhovens Dagblad Eran Zahavi praises for the flawless shooting of a free kick, which brought PSV to 2-0. “Top quality, something that Mario Gotze, for example, also delivered”, the regional newspaper writes. “His subtle play on the ball sometimes makes the difference between a totally unsuccessful attack or a dangerous situation. Götze is not yet ‘top’, but even in its current form a huge reinforcement for PSV.”
The Telegraph is aware of the major financial consequences of the elimination for PSV. “Financially, PSV not only misses out on 1.1 million euros in premiums for reaching the next round. The club also felt the pain of the house that cannot be sold out, which costs about one and a half million euros in receipts and catering turnover. PSV’s ambitious talents miss at least two duels, in which they could show that they are ready for the European Championship with their national team or for leading clubs in top European competitions. “
Players such as Donyell Malen, Mohamed Ihattaren and Denzel Dumfries can no longer show themselves to the top clubs at European level. “Right now, PSV would have wanted to end up in the Europa League phase that is so interesting for scouts of the European elite. The young PSV players now have to make do with the three Eredivisie toppers who are waiting in the next three weeks, against Ajax. (home), Feyenoord (home) and AZ (away). The unsuccessful European campaign can save PSV millions in transfer income, especially when it ends well behind Ajax in the competition. “