PSV is clearly still looking, also in the Europa League. That is the verdict of the newspapers after the 1-1 draw at home against FK Bodø Glimt. Ruud van Nistelrooij’s team fell behind just before half-time with a goal from Albert Gronbaek, after which captain Cody Gakpo equalized the score after the break. In the final phase, PSV was ultimately unable to win the match.
“PSV also disappoints on a lower podium”, headlines Jeroen Kapteijns from The Telegraph. The journalist states that PSV was sloppy and was unable to get a grip on Bodø Glimt. Kapteijns also thinks that the Brabant club should be happy that the Europa League is being played. “The people of Eindhoven would have liked to see themselves again this season among the elite of the Champions League, but based on the game played against the Norwegians, it might be better that it stayed with the Europa League.”
Rik Elfrink from the Eindhovens Dagblad writes that PSV got into trouble again on Thursday evening. He also speaks of ‘slow motion football’. Still, he saw that the Eindhoven team could have made it easier for themselves by scoring earlier, for example via an opportunity for Anwar El Ghazi. “Not that PSV got a pass with that draw, because Ruud van Nistelrooij’s team should have beaten the number two in Norway to feel some comfort in their own Europa League group. That did not happen, because the team was too often in despair and without confidence on the field.”
Elfrink also thinks that last Saturday’s defeat against FC Twente (2-1) still played a role in the minds of the PSV players. “Last weekend’s dissent against FC Twente had clearly left deep marks, because PSV played far too little in the first hour of the match.” The game of striker Yorbe Vertessen could not convince the journalist. “The Belgian, who was trained by PSV himself, had to ensure a lot of movement in the front and with his speed keep depth in PSV’s game, but that was not achieved at all in the first phase of the match.”
De Volkskrant speaks of an incoherent PSV. Journalist Guus Peters sees that trainer Van Nistelrooij is clearly still searching. “A clear line is not yet sufficiently visible in the game of the people of Eindhoven. PSV often looked without ideas against the Norwegian champion, hoping for an inspiration from, for example, Cody Gakpo or Xavi Simons. PSV’s game went wrong much more often. Too static, too little creativity, so the Norwegian team from the town of Bodø, which lies above the Arctic Circle, simply remained upright.”