Champions League: how Bosz relaunched with PSV after his failure in Lyon

After a brilliant 2022-23 season, crowned by two trophies (the Super Cup and the Dutch Cup), PSV Eindhoven was shaken by the departure of its coach, Ruud van Nistelrooy, for “internal matters” at a match of the end of the championship. Without the former glory of Manchester United, PSV still held on to second place, synonymous with the 3rd qualifying round for the Champions League.

A few days later, Peter Bosz took the reins of this team, his return to the game after his ouster from Olympique Lyonnais in October 2022. Moreover, he “no longer follows” the French championship, as he admitted before facing RC Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, in the group stage. It must be said that his divorce with OL and his locker room was painful...

Alexandre Lacazette himself had publicly criticized his coach after an OL draw against TFC, two days before Bosz's dismissal. “I’m a little surprised (by Dembélé’s exit, Editor’s note). I think we were good with Moussa in front. But after the coach made his choices, he had his reasons. We are obliged to respect our choices. But as a basic attacker, I don't always understand when a center forward comes out when we have to score," admitted the Les Gones striker after this poor performance. Since then, the Dutch technician, who celebrated his 60th birthday in November 2023, has made PSV Eindhoven, one of the teams in good form in this first part of the season, shine.

This season, PSV is flying over the Dutch championship with a series of 17 consecutive victories, before conceding a first draw on January 21, against Utrecht (1-1). Since then, the Eindhoven players have only recorded one draw in the league, at Ajax Amsterdam (1-1), obviously maintaining a comfortable lead at the top of the standings with 62 points out of 66 possible after 22 matches, relegating Feyenoord (52 points) and Twente (44 points) a considerable distance away.

In the Champions League, the “Boeren” are still in the running. They will face Borussia Dortmund this Tuesday (9 p.m.) at the Philips Stadion, in the round of 16 first leg. To reach this stage of the competition, Peter Bosz and his men notably held a draw against Arsenal (1-1) and beat Lens at home (1-0) on November 8. They finished second behind the Gunners but ahead of the Sang et Or and the Sevillian Red Lantern.

The former Lyon coach is the main actor, he who relies on a particularly offensive, aggressive style of play, with constant pressing, and counts on an intelligently designed squad. First of all, experience, with their scorer Luuk de Jong (33 years old) and former Nice goalkeeper Walter Benitez (31 years old). Then talent, Hirving Lozano, returned to the club last summer after four seasons in Naples, or the former Barcelona player Sergino Dest, again indispensable after a difficult season at AC Milan. And finally talented young people, like Belgian striker Johan Bakayoko (20 years old, decisive 19 times in 33 matches played). Sick last weekend, he could make his return to the squad against BVB, according to Peter Bosz. We can also mention Jordan Teze (24 years old), at the club since 2017-18, tireless right back in the 4-3-3 installed by Bosz.

Facing Borussia Dortmund, an expert in draws for several months but undefeated since December 9 (4 wins, 7 draws), Peter Bosz's men can hope for a positive result at home. “I can’t wait to be there,” admitted Peter Bosz at a press conference. “We know where we can hurt them and what to watch out for. Fortunately, we have already gained experience against opponents of this level in the group stage. The away match against Arsenal was very important afterwards. We were able to compete against one of the best teams in the world. We learned a lot from that,” he added.

“They also have good positional play. The way they play will therefore also depend on us. It is important that we dare to play football. This is the key to winning the match in the end,” further deciphered Peter Bosz. “I hope it's not the match of the year, because that means there will be others,” laughed American international Dest. It promises.