PSV Women will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the round of 16 of the UEFA Women’s Europa League. Tomorrow evening, PSV will first host the German team at home, followed by the second leg in Frankfurt in two weeks. Shanice van de Sanden is looking forward to the matchup: “I’m excited—bring it on!”
Although Eintracht Frankfurt is no easy opponent, Shanice is pleased with the draw and sees the match as a great challenge for PSV. “I love playing against good opponents. We have a very strong team, too. If you want to win something, you have to be able to take on a good opponent.” The forward expects an intense match against the German club. “It’s going to be a tough one. You know that as soon as the draw is announced. But I think we’re in a good rhythm right now, so above all, it’ll be a fun match. I’m really looking forward to it.”
German League
The Bundesliga is not unfamiliar territory for Shanice, as she played two seasons with VfL Wolfsburg. Thanks to her experience, Shanice knows what PSV can expect. She describes the German league as physical and demanding. “In Germany, you really spend a lot of time in the gym. It’s a very physically fit league, so you can expect Eintracht Frankfurt to just keep pushing. But I feel in top shape for that, so bring it on.”
In Good Form
PSV Women have gone five matches without a loss and won their last match 1-4 against Ajax. That gives them confidence heading into the match against Eintracht Frankfurt, though Shanice isn’t concerned with making comparisons. “We know that Frankfurt is on a slightly different level than Ajax. We’ve seen that in our analysis. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a say in this match this morning. So I’m really looking forward to it. I’m really excited.”
Reaching the Highest Potential
Shanice looks at her team with a healthy dose of confidence. “I think you can aim for the highest possible level. But I’m thinking about where we stand right now. And with the teams in the Europa League, I think we can really go far.” For now, the focus is mainly on the match against Eintracht Frankfurt. “Let’s start with tomorrow night and not look too far ahead. I can’t wait.”