The new way of playing by PSV is disadvantageous for Philipp Max, Kees Kwakman thinks. The wing defender had plenty of room to cover the entire left wing last season, as PSV operated in a 4-2-2-2 system without a left winger. However, Cody Gakpo is now lined up as a left attacker and with that, the space for Max has decreased. As a result, the emphasis is placed more on his defensive tasks and, according to Kwakman, he excels less in that.
In Thursday’s Europa League match against Real Sociedad (2-2) Kwakman noticed that ‘something had changed’ at Max. “Offensively, he is used less. The collaboration with Gakpo is just a little less,” the analyst notes on Sunday morning. Good morning Eredivisie. Max had a rough night guarding Adnan Januzaj against Real Sociedad. With the Spaniards’ first goal, Max stepped on to Januzaj on the inside, allowing the steamed right back Joseba Zaldua to pass a cross undisturbed from which Januzaj scored. On the second goal, Max failed to stop an action by Januzaj, allowing him to reach Zaldua. After a cross from the back, Alexander Isak scored.
“It is difficult to stop the cross at the 1-1; at the 1-2 Gakpo lets Zaldua walk (the right back of Real Sociedad, ed.)”, continues Kwakman in the run-up to the match between PSV and Feyenoord van Sunday afternoon. He notes that Max is ‘put to work more defensively’ and is ‘lower on the field’. “PSV no longer plays with two numbers ten, like last season; Gakpo plays on the left, so there is less room for Max to come up. The collaboration with Gakpo is not quite top yet.” Max had a strong debut season in the Eredivisie, with five goals and eight assists in the Eredivisie. This season the counter for goals and assists in the league is still at zero.
“Max has zero created opportunities from open play and zero assists this season. Last season there were only five players who had better statistics in those areas,” said Kwakman. “PSV’s new tactics and formation are a bit less for him. That doesn’t mean it’s worse for PSV, not at all, because Götze and Gakpo come into their own better. But Max’s attacking input is a bit less. he can do a little more and he’s a little less good at that.” On Thursday evening, Roger Schmidt, PSV’s trainer, said he was still satisfied with Max’s attacking contribution. He thinks the back has performed well in recent games. “The goals came from crosses from his side today (Thursday, ed.), but he played good games. The crosses were not only his fault. The whole team has to do better.”