Rosalie Renfurm (18) and Aymee Altena (17) are in their first season with PSV Women. The young players, who were acquired this summer from FC Utrecht and sc Heerenveen, quickly found their footing on Kasper Kurland’s team. Ahead of the two-leg European series against Eintracht Frankfurt, they talk about their collaboration, the pressure at PSV, and their ambitions.
Since her arrival, Rosalie has been a mainstay for PSV Women. The midfielder can invariably be found in the number six position, where she showcases her composure on the ball week after week. Renfurm hadn’t expected to get so much playing time in her first season. “That’s really special. The players around me are also very good, which helps me play better myself.”
Aymee, a winger by trade, has big names like Liz Rijsbergen and Shanice van de Sanden ahead of her, but still gets minutes every week. “We have a group with a lot of experience. We can only learn from that.”
Stronger Together
The two knew each other before they came to PSV, as they both play for the Netherlands U19 national team. With that team, they even reached the final of the U19 World Cup last year. During that tournament, they happened to be roommates as well. “We’re inseparable,” they say with a laugh.
On the field, they complement each other. Aymee praises Rosalie’s game sense, passing, and technique. Conversely, Rosalie praises Aymee’s speed, shot, and goal-scoring ability. The 4-1 victory over Ajax also gave the team a boost of confidence. According to the duo, they’re clicking better and better and are becoming more in sync with each other. At the same time, the pressure at PSV is greater than at their previous clubs. “Before, when you played against Ajax, you knew you could lose. Here, it’s really a must-win situation,” Rosalie explains.
Confidence Ahead of Frankfurt
Rosalie and Aymee made their European debuts at PSV. The campaign began with two wins in the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers, but that was followed by elimination against HB Køge. As a result, PSV continued its European journey in the UEFA Women’s Europa League, where they defeated Fortuna Hjørring over two legs.
Now Eintracht Frankfurt awaits in the round of 16. The players expect a tough opponent but are heading into the two-leg series with confidence. “They’re one of the tougher opponents, but we just want to win. We believe we can beat anyone,” says Aymee. On Wednesday, PSV Women will play the first leg at TenCate Stadion De Herdgang. The second leg will follow on November 11 in Germany.