With matches against Roda JC Kerkrade, FC Rostov and Go Ahead Eagles, PSV is on the eve of a 'very important week,' Phillip Cocu believes. The head coach indicated this Friday afternoon, the day before the first game in that series - away at Roda JC - at the press conference at De Herdgang.
Accents
In that context, it is nice for Cocu to have been able to spend a week preparing his squad for the away game at Roda JC Kerkrade. Especially with the busy schedule of the first months of this season in mind. "If you don't have a midweek game, you can put some different accents. Sometimes you can give a player some extra rest and sometimes you can go more into some substantive matters. That's nice for me and the players. Also in view of the upcoming very important week."
Brenet fit
An additional advantage is that PSV's sickbay is slowly emptying. For example, Joshua Brenet is fit enough for a place in the matchday squad and Jorrit Hendrix, Jürgen Locadia and Andrés Guardado are heading towards their final recovery phase. "But before they are employable again, we want them to participate fully in training for a week. When you've been out for a long time, it takes a while before you're at 100 percent."
Roda JC Kerkrade
PSV thus travels to Kerkrade without that trio, where Cocu demands complete concentration from his team. "It will certainly not be an easy match. They have often drawn, play very compact and are dangerous on the counter. Opponents by now also know where our strength lies. That requires adjustments. Sometimes we try to disrupt that, for example, by adjusting our style of play a bit."