Ajax - PSV is the capstone of a noisy first half of the season in the Eredivisie. Who will win on Sunday? Seven former PSV players looked ahead last week in De Telegraaf or the Algemeen Dagblad. 'Ajax - PSV is a match in itself.'
Jan Heintze: 'Controlled start'
Dane Jan Heintze played more than 300 games for PSV and became champion no fewer than nine times. Based partly on his own experiences, he thinks his old team will win against Ajax. "If PSV starts the match concentrated I see it positively. I expect a 1-2 win in Amsterdam," Heintze told the Algemeen Dagblad.
Wim Jonk: 'PSV dangerous in underdog position'
Midfielder Wim Jonk played for both PSV and Ajax in his career and sees the club he last served as head of youth training as the favorite. "Ajax is in better shape. The players find each other just a bit faster than PSV and play at a higher tempo," Jonk stated in De Telegraaf. "The confidence at PSV is low, you can see that in the game. I expect Ajax to be the superior side, although PSV has proven in the past to be dangerous in an underdog position."
Wim Jonk thinks Ajax will come out on top
Joop Hiele: 'PSV win most favorable'
Former PSV goalkeeping coach Joop Hiele, a former Feyenoord goalkeeper, is hoping for a PSV win. "I think that is the most favorable result," he said in the Algemeen Dagblad. "But even with six points away, nothing is decided yet. We have seen that before."
Søren Lerby: 'Less chance than usual'
Søren Lerby, who like Jonk played for Ajax and PSV in his career, says in De Telegraaf that he expects PSV to come out on top. "It's true that PSV often do well in the Amsterdam ArenA, but this time I think they have less of a chance. Also, because they are not in their best phase, to say the least."
Arthur Numan: 'The Ajax game suits PSV'
In the same newspaper, Arthur Numan does not venture a prediction. However, the former PSV defender, who became champion in 1997, does think PSV has a chance. "Ajax's game does suit PSV. Ajax will want to show something in front of their own crowd. That will give PSV more room to play football," said Numan, who sees a comparison with his own time as a PSV player. "Ajax brought out the best in us. Ajax's open game suited us."
Gerald Vanenburg: 'Ajax title favorite'
Gerald Vanenburg played 173 games for Ajax and 199 for PSV. He sees Ajax as the favorite for Sunday, as well as in the title race. "Both clubs are still competing for the title, but for me PSV is the underdog. Ajax is more constant and in my eyes still title favorite number one. I expect a 2-1 win for the Amsterdammers," he told Algemeen Dagblad.
Patrick Paauwe: 'Match in itself'
Finally, Patrick Paauwe, who is currently a trainer in PSV's youth training program. Like Heintze, he is betting on a win for PSV. "PSV have not been playing convincingly in recent weeks, but I see this game as a match in itself. That's why I expect PSV to win against Ajax in the ArenA: 1-2."
Patrick Paauwe goes for a 1-2 win for PSV