Ruud van Nistelrooij can look forward to the return in the Champions League against AS Monaco with a carefree feeling. On Saturday evening, his team managed to beat FC Emmen (4-1) without difficulty and he was also able to save a large number of players. Guus Til and Ibrahim Sangaré remained on the bench for the entire match, Joey Veerman and Cody Gakpo left early. Philipp Max also got some rest and was replaced halfway through.
PSV took the lead fairly out of the blue via Johan Bakayoko (assist Xavi Simons) after more than fifteen minutes of play and thus got rid of a difficult opening phase. “Ultimately you know that you have the qualities,” says Van Nistelrooij. “Gakpo got full coverage from their back, who followed him everywhere, so it was sometimes a bit of a search. If you make the first you get a little more rhythm. Their second was a clumsy own goal, then it’s a long way off.”
Already the most clumsy own goal of the season??#psvemm pic.twitter.com/JqwIsJvLmA
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) August 6, 2022
The score development gave Van Nistelrooij the opportunity to save a large part of his starting eleven. The next test is scheduled for Tuesday evening for the people of Eindhoven, if the play-offs of the Champions League must be reached at the expense of AS Monaco. “We have been able to manage the players who have played a lot in Monaco today through the score. In that respect we have been able to meet the scenario that we had outlined. We will see on Tuesday.”
Van Nistelrooij hopes to be able to count on Gakpo again against the Monegasques. The wing player impressed against Emmen with two hits and is still a PSV contract player despite frequent interest from abroad. “Without notification to the contrary, we simply assume that he is with us,” said Van Nistelrooij. “That’s all that matters. But we all know that a lot can happen in football. If clubs come and certain amounts … You know that. Then it goes on until the end of the deadline. we assume he will stay.”