PSV suffered their first defeat of the Otten Innovation Cup in their third group-stage match. Brazilian side Palmeiras proved too strong, winning 3-1.
PSV made a good start to the match but were unable to hold on to their lead. PSV midfielder Mathieu Buyens saw it the same way: “We started the match well and showed our own style of play. After the break, we didn’t come out of the dressing room well.”
Buyens gets on the scoresheet
Palmeiras applied high pressure from the start and were willing to play one-on-one all over the pitch. Despite this, PSV managed to play their way out of the pressure fairly well in the first half. This resulted in the opening goal, scored by Buyens himself: “I played the ball to Jairo Beerens. He is very strong in one-on-one situations and managed to get the ball in front of goal. I received the ball and I think I finished it well.”
Difficult second half
Palmeiras stepped up the pressure even further in the second half, and PSV were no longer able to play their way out of it. Buyens: “In the first half, they played one-on-one, but the difference was that in the second half they pressed even higher up the pitch. We struggled with that. We also weren’t strong enough in the duels.”
No preference
PSV had already secured their place in the semi-finals, but according to Buyens, this did not play a role: “No, that didn’t play a role. I think that as a team, we give everything in every match and approach every game as a match in its own right.”
Buyens has no preference when it comes to PSV’s semi-final opponent: “They are all strong teams. Monaco and Chelsea are currently at the top, and they are both very strong as well. Club Brugge can still go through too, so we’ll have to wait and see who our opponent will be. We’re going to eat now, get some rest and then prepare for the semi-final.”
The game is getting faster
Buyens has now become accustomed to the innovative rules: “At the start of the tournament, we had to get used to them, but now it’s going well. The game is much faster now. With a throw-in, for example, it normally takes quite a while.”
PSV will be back in action at 4:30 PM this afternoon, when they face their semi-final at the Otten Innovation Cup. It remains to be seen whether Buyens and his teammates can secure a place in the final of the Otten Innovation Cup.