A win against Heerenveen this weekend will seal PSV Eindhoven their first Eredivisie title since 2008, and 22nd in their history.
- By Michael Bell
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Its been in the pipeline all season, but this weekend PSV Eindhoven should finally clinch their first title in seven years, with a win over Heerenveen in the Phillips Stadion.
Phillip Cocu’s side have undoubtedly been the team to beat this season with a run of 20 wins in their last 23 ties seeing PSV run away with the title, and with four games left they have a ten point lead over Ajax, which will be unreachable for the Amsterdam side should Heerenveen fall in Eindhoven.
The title will be the first big success for the club under the leadership of technical director Marcel Brands, who has overseen a overhaul at PSV over the past two years. At the start of last season, out went an experienced coach in Dick Advocaat, as well as seasoned players such as Kevin Strootman, Mark van Bommel, Jeremain Lens, and Dries Mertens. In came ex-club hero Phillip Cocu to take charge, while focus was put more on youth with Memphis Depay, Jetro Willems, Jeroen Zoet, and Jurgen Locadia coming into the side, while youngsters Adam Maher, and Karim Rekik were signed, the latter on loan.
After a great start last season, the young squad ran out of gas, and their naivety cost them with the more experienced Ajax storming to the title, and Feyenoord earning second, pushing PSV into third.
However PSV regrouped in the summer and the weaknesses from the past season were addressed, while key players such as Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum were retained, despite impressing at the World Cup. Luuk de Jong was added to the attack, and Andres Guardado brought much needed experience to the midfield, two signings which proved crucial.
With De Jong in the attack, PSV had a link between defence and attack, with the striker able to link perfectly with the pace of Depay and Luciano Narsingh to turn the club into a devastating counter attacking side. While Guardado, who was usually a winger in Spain, was moved into a central midfield role and provided a screen for the back four which was again ruled by the impressive partnership of Jeffrey Bruma and Karim Rekik.
Most of the praise for PSV’s impressive form will go to Depay and De Jong, who have scored 36 goals between them so far, but Jetro Willems has been crucial to the clubs success this season, with the left back’s overall game improving hugely, while the 20-year-old has chipped in with eleven assists, the second most in the league.
It is likely that Brands and Cocu will have to oversee another rebuild this summer, with Depay and Wijnaldum set to move on for big money, while clubs will undoubtedly have their eyes on De Jong, and Willems. However the club has the added bonus of Champions League to offer potential signings, and with huge transfer fee’s set to be paid for their stars, Cocu will have the opportunity to build a squad to keep the Eindhoven side ahead of Ajax and Feyenoord next season.
For now PSV will be focusing on Saturday and a win over Heerenveen which will allow the fans and players to celebrate their 22nd Eredivisie title on Sunday in Eindhoven. Enjoy it PSV fans, its been seven years in waiting.
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