Carlos Vinícius has not yet impressed Johan Derksen. The PSV attacker, who is rented from Benfica for two seasons with an option to buy, made two substitutes for his new club. He played 27 minutes in the Europa League against Real Sociedad (2-2) and played 30 minutes against Feyenoord (0-4) on Sunday. According to Derksen, it has already turned out that Vinicius ‘cannot do anything about it’.
PSV started the top match without Noni Madueke, while Eran Zahavi, Mario Götze and Davy Pröpper were replaced in the break; after an hour, Cody Gakpo also had to give way. Yorbe Vertessen, Ryan Thomas and Ritsu Doan came in at the start of the second half. Carlos Vinícius came on after an hour and Madueke came in eighteen minutes before time. Wim Kieft has been ‘terribly annoyed’ with the PSV trainer and also the other analysts of Veronica Inside are critical.
René van der Gijp jokingly says that Schmidt ‘must continue’ with his substitution policy. “He must not stop. Just consistently get the best players out,” the analyst advises with a wink. “And then that stupid power from Brazil, who can’t do anything, with that square head,” Derksen adds. “He can’t do anything about it. He was a reserve at Benfica for a reason.” According to Van der Gijp, Schmidt is ‘the only trainer in the world who does this’. “Would he never doubt it?”
Derksen would like to see Schmidt called to order by his players. Gakpo said after the game against Feyenoord that he understands his substitution. “That man has convinced himself that he knows more about it than very stupid Netherlands put together. PSV has no personalities; that Gakpo is a very sweet, modest boy, but he wouldn’t talk to him about it at all, he just allows it. It would be good if Schmidt found a few players who say: can this talk be over?”
Kieft does not see captain Gakpo, but Eran Zahavi as the right man to bite off. “You can perhaps expect it from Zahavi. He is older and is also constantly changed. That Madueke is nineteen years old, he is not going to say anything. Gakpo has just been in it, so he is not going to say anything.” Gakpo said he understands and accepts the substitution. “Of course he thinks: he has already played on Thursday and there are many more matches to come. That’s how he changes. I don’t really have discussions with him about it, no.”