Peter Bosz, PSV Eindhoven’s coach, has made changes to his squad for the upcoming Champions League match against Arsenal but is still eyeing the €2.8m win bonus.
While the game doesn’t affect group standings, it is important for UEFA coefficient rankings and carries a significant win bonus.
PSV Eindhoven‘s coach Peter Bosz has announced significant changes to his squad for the Champions League group stage game against Arsenal.
Bosz, in his press conference, emphasised the importance of giving game time to bench players who have consistently contributed throughout the season.
Malik Tillman is set to start. However, the team will be without key players Hirving Lozano, Noa Lang, and Armel Bella-Kotchap.
Additionally, there are doubts over Jerdy Schouten‘s participation while Joey Veerman was missing from their final training session.
The decision regarding Jordan Teze, who sustained a head injury in the match against Feyenoord, will be made following Monday’s training session.
Despite these changes, Bosz has chosen to retain Walter Benitez as the starting goalkeeper, marking a deviation from last season’s Europa League group match against Bodo/Glimt where Joël Drommel was played.
Bosz also commented on the unusual situation of facing a match with limited competitive stakes. “The last match that is not about anything for the score,” he said. “If you had thought about that beforehand, you would think ‘phew, that’s not good, because then you are so far at the bottom that it doesn’t matter anymore.
“In this case we are qualified. If you then say ‘it’s a pity it’s not about anything anymore, it’s because you’re no longer competing for first place’. Of course, we would have preferred to come first, because then you would draw a number two from another group and that would be easier.”
Looking forward to the match, Bosz sees it as an opportunity to gauge his team’s progress since their 4-0 defeat in London earlier in the season. “As a trainer, I am curious whether we have learned and whether we have improved. I know we are, but I also want to see that on the field against a top opponent,” he said.
Furthermore, Bosz acknowledged the financial implications of the match, with a win bringing in €2.8 million. However, his primary focus remains on fielding players who are fully fit to execute the team’s style of play effectively. “If we can help the treasurer, we will certainly do so,” he said. “But what concerns me is the question of who is capable of playing that match at one hundred percent. We’ll start with those guys. That requires our way of playing.”
In addition to the competitive aspects, Bosz expressed a desire to deliver an entertaining performance for the fans at the sold-out Philips Stadium.
“We want to present a great match to the people who come. They should be able to watch PSV football. That they can watch a team they can be proud of. That is our first interest,” Bosz concluded.
PSV aim for points record
Head Coach Peter Bosz’s team is seeking a win to achieve a club record, despite both teams having already secured their places in the knockout phase.
The group stage journey for PSV began with a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with goals from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, and former Eredivisie player Martin Ødegaard.
This wasn’t the first European encounter between the two clubs; they met last season in the UEFA Europa League group stage. Arsenal won 1-0 in London, but PSV secured a home victory, with Joey Veerman and captain Luuk de Jong scoring in a memorable match.
PSV’s history against Arsenal includes another notable home win during the 2006-2007 season, where Edison Méndez scored the sole goal. Under Ronald Koeman, PSV advanced to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals that year after drawing 1-1 in the away match.
For the first time since the 2015-2016 season, PSV have qualified for the Champions League knockout phase. This achievement was confirmed after a comeback 3-2 victory against Sevilla FC and a win against RC Lens.
The team is now aiming for a club record of 11 points in the UCL group stage, surpassing their previous best of 10 points.
Luuk de Jong is in excellent form, with 10 league goals and seven European goals this season.
A goal in the upcoming match against Arsenal would make him PSV’s all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, breaking the tie with Ruud van Nistelrooij.