After three weeks without premier league football, PSV resumes the league as league leaders against Heracles Almelo. In the east of the Netherlands, PSV begins the mission of keeping all competitors behind them. "We have to be there right away on Sunday," Phillip Cocu said. "We don't need the result of another match (Ajax - Feyenoord, ed.) to be motivated."
Jetlag
At De Herdgang, the head coach traditionally looked ahead to PSV's next match in Almelo, which takes place exactly one week after returning from the training camp. A successful trip, Cocu previously felt, and he also liked the past training week in Eindhoven. "As of Wednesday, everyone was back in a nice rhythm," he alluded to any jet lag his players might have had from the time difference between Florida and the Netherlands.
"We obviously took that into account by training a little later on Monday and Tuesday. Jet lag plays absolutely no role on Sunday." In Almelo, Cocu cannot yet dispose of Maximiliano Romero. According to the head coach, the Argentine arrival is still training individually and Cocu does not want to take any risks with the newest face in his squad.
Locadia
Of course, the situation surrounding Jürgen Locadia, who is also absent due to injury, was also discussed. The striker is coveted by Brighton & Hove Albion, several media reported Thursday evening, and appears to be making the move to the Premier League before the winter is over. "Sports-wise I'm not happy about it, but we have to understand the club's situation. Sometimes you simply cannot stop a transfer," Cocu responded, adding that Locadia is still just a PSV player at the moment.
Nor could Cocu say whether PSV will enter the market with any money from the transfer. "We must have the selection in such a position that we can go into the second half of the season well. Perhaps something else will follow, but there is nothing to say about that at the moment."