PSV have reached the semi-finals of the Otten Innovation Cup. Australian side Adelaide United FC were beaten 4-1 at a sweltering PSV Campus De Herdgang.
Loek Schakenraad was pleased with the victory and with reaching the semi-finals, although the match was not as straightforward as the scoreline might suggest. Schakenraad said: “The first half was very difficult. We didn’t really play at our best either. I think we were just a little less sharp and sometimes pressed players when it wasn’t necessary.”
After being level at 1-1 at half-time, the second half was all PSV. Schakenraad: “You could clearly see a big difference compared to the first half. We definitely deserved to win.”
Goalscorer
In the second half, PSV extended their lead to 3-1 through Buyens and Sabajo, before Schakenraad also got on the scoresheet. Talking about his goal, he said: “I received the ball and knocked it past the defender. Then I was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and chipped the ball nicely over him. I almost scored another one, but unfortunately that effort hit the crossbar.”
High temperatures
Despite the heat, with temperatures reaching as high as 36 degrees Celsius, PSV managed to step up their performance in the second half. The PSV midfielder said: “It was really hot. Every now and then I even got a dry mouth because of the heat. It was good that there was a hydration break, which gave us enough time to rest and meant we could manage the conditions well. We needed it too, because with the new rules, such as the self-pass, the game is even more intense; you have less time to rest. I actually like having these rules. They make the game faster.”
PSV through to the semi-finals
Thanks to the victory over Adelaide United and the draw between Manchester United and Palmeiras, PSV have already secured their place in the semi-finals after just two matches. Schakenraad is looking forward to tomorrow: “I’m really looking forward to the semi-final. Of course, I hope we win, reach the final and ultimately win the tournament. That would be absolutely fantastic.”
Recovery starts immediately
Coach Waalkens’ players will now prepare for tomorrow and recover from today’s efforts. Schakenraad explains that recovery starts straight away: “We’re going to spend fifteen minutes in an ice bath shortly. We’ll also make sure to drink plenty and eat lots of protein. We already had protein bars in the dressing room so that we could start our recovery immediately.”
With two victories today, PSV can go to bed feeling confident and prepare for another exciting day of football at the Otten Innovation Cup. In their final group-stage match, PSV will face Brazilian side Palmeiras. Their opponent in the semi-finals is not yet known.