Head coach Roger Schmidt looked ahead to this season's 'final weekend' Wednesday morning at PSV Campus De Herdgang. Against first PEC Zwolle and then FC Utrecht, he wants to coach PSV to second place in a season that has a mentally tough end. 'We will be there,' Schmidt said.
Eran Zahavi
That spirited ending has everything to do with the events surrounding Eran Zahavi's family. As is known, PSV's Israeli striker left the selection before the match against Willem II due to serious private circumstances. At the press conference, it was unsurprisingly a topic of conversation, and Schmidt expressed his support for PSV's striker. "The situation is tough for him, his wife and his children. We are lucky that they are physically and in good health, but that it is a traumatic experience is beyond doubt. Eran trained with the selection again yesterday for the first time. From day to day we will see how he is doing. It is clear that Eran is in the lead. PSV has every understanding for the choices he makes," Schmidt said.
Proud
The Head Coach was nevertheless proud of how his selection handled the situation on Sunday. "Under very tough conditions, we performed very strongly. We showed mental resilience and spirit. We will make sure we are there again on Thursday," Schmidt said. "We have second place in our own hands. I don't want to look at the competition. We only influence our own performance."
Absentees
PSV may not have a number of players available against PEC Zwolle who were also absent on Sunday. "Mario Götze has slight physical complaints. Sunday the risk of an injury was too high and therefore he was out. For the match against PEC Zwolle Mario is a doubt, the chances of him being available against FC Utrecht are higher and so is Mohamed Ihattaren." Timo Baumgartl is also out, according to Schmidt.
Next season
When asked, Schmidt also looked ahead to next season with an oblique eye. In his second year, the goal is to reduce or eliminate the gap with Ajax. How to achieve that? "Money is the easiest solution," Schmidt laughingly replied after a question from the press room. "But in my view there are more ways to reduce the gap. Through a compelling style of football, good team spirit and more efficiency. This season we have already seen outlines of that, like in the games against Ajax. In my opinion, we were equal overall in the three duels. After the season ends, we will draw the conclusions. Hopefully as number two in the Eredivisie, because that is important for PSV. In preparation for the new season with probably some new players, we are going to work hard to challenge Ajax."