PSV faces FC Groningen on Sunday. In the run-up to the match, head coach Peter Bosz spoke about the opponent, his team’s improving form, and the latest developments within the squad.
What do you expect from FC Groningen?
“What Groningen is doing is impressive. We’ve taken a good look at them, and a few things stand out. Except for the goalkeeper and the left winger, everyone is in their early twenties. You can’t say they’re inexperienced, because they’ve all already played a few seasons. Many of the players also came up through the club’s own youth system. They’ve been on an upward trajectory ever since they started relying on their own players. That’s great to see.”
Are you guys getting into better shape yourselves?
“I think so. I can tell from the practices. You can see from the group whether they’re playing with the right intensity and whether the passes are connecting. You could already see that against Excelsior [Rotterdam], especially in the second half. If you train well, you’ll get results in the long run.”
This morning, Geertruida was presented as the latest addition to the team. He had a good preseason with Leipzig. So he can’t be far from being in top shape, right?
“No, that’s right. If a player has been training with a group since early July—he joined a bit later because of the Dutch national team—then they’re usually in shape. Kostic was training individually, and every football player knows you have to get used to it. You have to get used to training with a group; that’s more intense, and matches are even more intense.”
Do you expect Kostic to be able to fully rejoin the team soon?
“Kostic is Ivan-like in his obsession with training. He always wants more and has a strong build. So he’ll be fit faster than most, but playing in matches is still something else entirely.”
Was Geertruida registered in time to play against FC Groningen?
“Yes, Geertruida was registered in time.”
Joey Veerman has left, and Sano has returned to take his place. Will he approach that role differently?
“I’m not really into the six, the eight, and the ten. I look at which players can play well together. I look at the whole team and how that whole team measures up against the opponent. That part has to be right.”