After winning the cup final, Roeland ten Berge is confidently focusing on the next challenge: sc Heerenveen. The duel with his old club is always special, but for Ten Berge it's only about the result. "Everyone has to follow the battle plan and stay focused."
How do you look back on the victory in the midweek cup game with Feyenoord?
"I look back on it very positively. Feyenoord put us under pressure in the first half and we tried the same with them. As a result, they chose the long ball more often, which turned out to be a weapon for us, because Renate scored the first goal from such a ball. Feyenoord did get some chances, but we created the bigger opportunities. You noticed that after halftime they could no longer muster the energy, while we did."
In your opinion, what really made the difference?
"The difference was that we continued to execute our battle plan well and gave plenty of energy. Feyenoord dropped back a bit in the second half and that allowed us - with the qualities we have up front - to make the difference."
How important is the role of experienced forces at this stage of the season?
"It's about the whole thing. Everyone has to follow the plan and stay focused. The experienced players play a crucial role in this by continuously emphasizing that on the pitch and continuing to perform themselves. Renate was a perfect example of that against Feyenoord, with a goal and two assists."
How do you make sure the team stays focused now?
"We don't look too far ahead and only focus on the next game. We keep doing what we have been doing all season: focusing on our own style of play and continuing to develop it. It is important to analyze what the opportunities and threats are per game."
Do you feel extra tension or more focus within the group?
"It's relaxing in a good way. We have already achieved many of our goals, such as playing for prizes. Now it's up to all of us to keep the right focus and feel that competitive tension. This is how we continue to perform, and so far it is going very well. I notice a lot of confidence and calm within the group and staff."
Next Sunday's game is against Heerenveen, a club where you were previously head coach. How does that feel to you?
"It's always special, because you've worked there. There are not many players I trained anymore and I am mainly focused on getting results. Still, it's always nice to play against your old club."
Earlier this season, you won there 1-0. How do you look back on that now?
"That was in the early stages of this season. Since then, the team has developed tremendously and we are much further together than we were then."
What do you expect from Sunday's duel?
"Heerenveen is a team that likes to play freely, and now that the pressure is off, they can really do that. They have good positional play, so we will have to be very organized to bring out that good football. We have to put high pressure and above all stay focused on winning the game."
The league match between PSV and sc Heerenveen begins at 4:45 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN 4.