Peter Bosz and Luuk de Jong addressed the media on Monday night at the press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League game with Juventus. Bosz called them an absolute top team, but believes his squad can also act at that level.
What did you have to doem to get the grumpiness out of the team?
"You can't get that grumpiness out of the team, because we haven't played a game after. That always lingers until the next game anyway, especially with me. But it's football and we have to keep going. We only have two days; we trained yesterday and concluded that in a discussion. Today we are going to look ahead to Juventus, train here and then play the match."
In particular, is it something football tactical or mental?
"If you watched our match it's a bit of everything. The main thing for me is that it is not stable enough, because we alternate games like Willem II with games against Feyenoord. So that means good or reasonable, with bad and less. And if you want to play in the top you can't do that, you have to be stable."
Which of your own experiences do you draw on when you are in such a situation as you are now?
"As a coach, you know that this always happens once or twice in a season, that you have a down period for a while. That just didn't happen last year. Then you get used to it, but of course it's not normal. It is important that I stay calm, analyze things well and know what to do. For the rest it's a matter of working hard, doing your very best, keeping to agreements and then things will start moving in the right direction."
How do you get energy back into the team?
"You get that energy through good results and by playing good matches. And also just daring; just playing football, not being afraid. It's about daring to make mistakes and it's my job to give the boys that confidence."
How do you view Juventus now?
"Juventus for me is an absolute top team, but the same goes for PSV in the Dutch league. Top clubs have to compete for the championship, which is not the case with them for a while, but it's still Juventus. With them it is also just as changeable, just like with us."
You have Ivan Perišić joining you tomorrow for the first time in the UEFA Champions League. What can he add?
"I haven't seen anyone as nervous as Ivan during the UEFA Champions League. He wasn't eligible to play and insisted on being there in February. There is no one with as much experience as him in the group, especially also when it comes to Italian football. I'm glad he can help us now. How he lives the profession, you can only admire him.
LUUK DE JONG
How has your role as captain been in recent days?
"I always talk to players, whether we performed well or poorly. What went well, or not. We have several guys in the group who take the lead in that."
What is the atmosphere in the locker room right now?
"Everyone balks at how things are going right now in certain games, but we have a good group that gets along well and are motivated to get a good result tomorrow. Now you're in a phase where things are a little more difficult, but you just have to keep working hard and fighting. Then we will automatically start seeing the PSV you want to see again."
Is there still something in your mind from that match at Juventus at the beginning of the UEFA Champions League?
"We struggled in the first half, but I think it will be a different game now and also it's about two games now. You will have to take that into account, because in Eindhoven we also want to go for a result."
How fit are you?
"100 percent fit."
