Jan Vertonghen qualified for the group stage of the Champions League with Benfica at the expense of PSV on Tuesday evening. The Belgian defender came in after the break to draw the draw over the line. The experienced left leg had foreseen the fact that as an ex-Ajacied Vertonghen was whistled by the PSV supporters.
Vertonghen fought several matches with PSV as an Ajax player. When he came inside the lines in Benfica’s shirt on Tuesday, a stinging flute concert sounded in the Philips Stadium. “I’ve already experienced some tough matches here, so I could expect to be whistled,” said the Belgian in conversation with RTL7. “In the end, they were also more concerned with the game, I think.”
Qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League was a necessity for Benfica. “Last season we unexpectedly missed the Champions League,” said Vertonghen, who came over from Tottenham Hotspur last year. At the time, Benfica was eliminated by PAOK. “If the club budgets for it, the pressure will only increase. This is fantastic for us. We knew it fifty fifty would become. In the home game we experienced that PSV is a good team.”
Benfica had to play with one man less after 32 minutes because Lucas Veríssimo received his second yellow card. “Somehow that might have been to our advantage. We were able to defend around sixteen and PSV didn’t really have the momentum to get through. Of course they got that chance. That it didn’t go in, that felt good.”
Eran Zahavi had a chance for open goal, but aimed for the crossbar. Moments later, substitute Yorbe Vertessen killed a great chance. “They mainly have players who are good when they are given space. Fast, little guys who have an individual action in the house. But the space became small, which was better for us. We had to keep an eye on the walking people. Every time there was a pass, we thought that was fine,” said Vertonghen.