Last season didn’t go as expected for Steven Bergwijn and the young winger will be aiming to play a more important role for PSV in this campaign.
- By Michael Bell
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Bergwijn actually started his career in the Ajax academy but didn’t have a good feeling playing in Amsterdam and made the controversial decision to switch to PSV in 2011. In Eindhoven he was quickly identified as a big talent and he made his professional debut for Jong PSV at the age of 16. A few months later he made his debut in the first team against Almere City in the KNVB Cup, providing an assist in a 5-1 win.
After Memphis Depay departed PSV in the summer of 2015, Bergwijn was expected to be his replacement in the first team, but Phillip Cocu only used the youngster eight times and he had to settle for a place in Jong PSV for most of the season. Last summer he was finally promoted permanently to the first team and was destined to be one of the breakthrough stars of the campaign.
However, PSV Eindhoven had a difficult campaign and the 19-year-old also struggled to make the impact expected. He made 33 appearances for the first team, but could only contribute two goals and two assists as PSV finished third and trophyless.
This summer he was one of the standout’s for PSV in pre-season and featured in both legs of the shock Europa League defeat to Osijek. Bergwijn still clearly has the faith of Cocu and the rest of the PSV coaching team and he will be aiming to prove his critics from last season wrong.
Bergwijn has been a regular for Netherlands youth teams and currently has two caps for the Dutch U21’s with two goals to his name already.
Style of play
Bergwijn is a fabulously talented winger with excellent dribbling ability and blistering pace. He loves to drive at opponents and cut inside at any opportunity, which has seen him often compared to Arjen Robben.
For Jong PSV he proved to also be a calm finisher in front of goal but he has yet to prove in the first team that he can contribute the amount of goals that Memphis did from the wing. This season he will need to work on the end product, which is the only thing stopping him from becoming a superstar.
What to expect from Bergwijn this season
Bergwijn is a massive talent and is expected to go on to become a Netherlands international and future superstar. Last season did not go as expected, but he is still only 19 and with the confidence of PSV he will be given time to adapt to first team football.
PSV have got off to a poor start already this summer and need the likes of Bergwijn to step up if they are to be title contenders. Expect Bergwijn to have a much bigger impact in the Eredivisie this season.
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