PSV will fight Thursday against Sturm Graz for a ticket to European football after the winter break. "This is the last chance we have. We are looking forward to taking it," head coach Roger Schmidt said during the preview.
"We know what to expect."
"We have to take the three points tomorrow," Schmidt is clear about his intentions with PSV. "We have a lot of confidence and also know we can win." However, he does let it be known that he expects it will not be an easy match. "Sturm Graz plays aggressively and is sharp on the ball. They showed this clearly in the games against AS Monaco and Real Sociedad. We have analyzed the matches and therefore we know what to expect."
Good step
"Our focus is on winning this match," Schmidt said. "We showed on Saturday against Vitesse that we can play good football." According to Schmidt, his team is in a good flow. "We have played well the past few games. We scored a lot, but also conceded a lot of goals against. We wanted to change that and we succeeded well against Vitesse. The players were focused and very sharp in defense. We kept the zero as a result, which is exactly what we were going for. That's a good step."
"We have to keep playing at top level "
That PSV have proven that they can win, confirms Mario Götze who is also present at the preview. "We played especially the first half against Vitesse very well. Everyone handled their role well and that is very positive. We were sharp in attack and created a lot of chances. We have to play at top level in such matches, despite the many injuries, and we did that, so we were very happy with the victory." A notable role in the flow that PSV is catching was played by Erick Gutiérrez. "Gutiérrez has really proven himself in the last three games. He can bring a lot of balance in important moments. In addition, he knows how to keep the ball well and control the game. With Mario Götze and Ibrahim Sangaré alongside him, they know how to prevent counter punches," Schmidt said.
Recovery in player group proceeding well
Philipp Max will not yet attend Thursday's game. "He is still in quarantine. When he is tested negative, he can play again," Schmidt said. Cody Gakpo and Jordan Teze will also not be at the match. However, the head coach does let it be known that the recovery is going well. "They are on the right track. I expect them to be able to rejoin the team next week or the week after." Striker Maximiliano Romero is out this week. "We know he won't be fit at least tomorrow. However, I do expect him to be back on the field before Christmas."