Aad de Mos and Rik Elfrink are not yet impressed by Ki-Jana Hoever’s performance. According to the analysts, the right back of PSV, who is rented from Wolverhampton Wanderers this season, had a difficult time in the match for the Johan Cruijff Scale against Ajax. Because PSV coach Ruud van Nistelrooij preferred Jordan Teze at right back in the second half, it remains to be seen who will be in the starting line-up against AS Monaco on Tuesday evening.
“I didn’t think Ki-Jana Hoever played very strongly on the right-hand side in the back,” says PSV watcher Elfrink in a video item of the Eindhovens Dagblad. Even before the match for the Johan Cruijff Scale, De Mos had little confidence in Hoever as right back. “Hoever is not a right back. That will certainly not be a right back for PSV. He is vulnerable on the inside, that is not a back.” The conversion with Ramalho and Teze in the field, on the other hand, did appeal to De Mos. “I think that’s the best setup.”
De Mos praises PSV’s game, but at the same time tries to temper expectations. “If you subtract the two blunders of the keeper (Jay Gorter, ed.) it is 3-3. I can imagine that it is nice for the group, the trainer and the supporters to beat Ajax. That is of course very alive. “But we know the history of last year. For me Tuesday’s and next week’s games against Monaco are more important. It is important that they get through those two games well and go to the next round.”
Rik Elfrink saw PSV come back into the game in a clever way. “PSV was under heavy pressure around Ajax’s first goal. The match turned after Guus Til’s 1-1, who finished it very well.” Looking ahead to the match against AS Monaco, De Mos thinks that the good game of the Eindhoven team can be a pitfall. “Perhaps the greatest danger is that you have had a free scouting report made. That was also against Benfica last year. Philippe Clement will say ‘thank you’. He can show the images: the goals and the goals against. For a head coach is that ideal: an opponent who plays a gala match. As the last match before your match. You can only motivate players with that.”
PSV will have options in Monaco anyway. For example, Phillipp Mwene and Érick Gutiérrez can make minutes, although De Mos would not tinker with the basic formation. However, the former trainer Jordan Teze would set up in the right-back position. “Ibrahim Sangaré, Guus Til and Joey Veerman are ideal to have in your team. They are all specialists in their position. That is what you strive for: outside category. Sangaré as a ball taker, Veerman in passing and cleverness, and Til in the inclusion of Luuk de Jong Til is ruthless with his feet and his head.”