After taking charge of a well-attended Friday morning training session, PSV head coach Phillip Cocu looked ahead to Sunday’s Eredivisie game against N.E.C. in Nijmegen, with a 16.45 kick-off. “They know our style of play, so we must prepare for a tough test”, said Cocu, referring to his former assistant coach Ernest Faber, who chose to depart PSV last season to take up his first role as head coach.
Bruma doubtful, Guardado recovers well
PSV’s treatment room is getting a little bit less busier and Cocu has a bigger pool to choose from. Cocu has a near full-strength squad at his disposal, but Maxime Lestienne and Andrés Guardado are ruled out for Sunday’s game. “Guardado won’t play. The match comes too early for him”, said Cocu, who added that the Mexican recovers well from injury. “I expect him to join the squad for full training shortly.” Cocu told the media at his pre-match conference that Maxime Lestienne need to undergo some more training session before he can re-join the senior squad. Jeffrey Bruma is doubtful for Sunday but may be called up to the match squad after all. “Jeff took part in Friday’s training session and we will wait and see if he can return to full training tomorrow.”
‘Faber has been a huge key to our successes’
Phillip Cocu was complimentary of Sunday’s opponents N.E.C. “Ernest Faber has done an amazing job at the newly-promoted team. He is a very good coach who feels at home with N.E.C. in Nijmegen. They are a good football playing team, have a good group of players and put on spirited displays. Faber is getting the best out of his players, who have been particularly quick with their defensive transitions. He obviously knows our style of play, which he may use to N.E.C.’s advantage. We also faced a tough test in this season’s reverse fixture at the Philips Stadion. Ernest Faber has been a huge key to PSV’s successes and knows PSV inside out, so he does have a bit of an advantage”, said Cocu.