Are we champions yet??

Who wants it…? PSV had a severe lead over Ajax and AZ some months ago but bal luck, injuries and bad management (let’s call a spade a spade, ok?) melted the lead PSV had… Today, with one match to go, they are number 3 in the standings.

What are the scenarios? Well, before we look at that, let’s look at the impact and interests. PSV is in trouble. Not just in football-technical terms, but also financially. Don’t ask me why, but they need CL football. If not next season, that for sure the season after next. If that doesn’t materialize, they could be in for a long fall and a very loud landing. Three weeks ago, Koeman’s team was on track, now the future looks very hazy indeed.

Phillip Cocu will not sign another contract just like that, Farfan may find a nice English club to play for (and reap millions of Euros) and Alex…well…most international topclubs will want to sign the massive Brazilian defender… If these players leave (Gomez is another candidate of course), what will be left of PSV?

Koeman has to take a lot of the blame. For starters, he is responsible for the team PSV currently has (taking a huge risk with Kluivert and by signing him, not having enough cash left to buy some more attackers). And secondly, when PSV started to slip in the Dutch competition and in the CL (the 0-3 loss at home against Liverpool) he started his usual whining.

Koeman used words like:

“Now we are in the corner where we have to face the blows” (sorry for the bad translation of a Dutch saying)

“With our winners out with injuries (Kone, Alex), we will try not to lose” (not really motivating the players who are fit)

“I’d rather close off the second leg against Liverpool by mail and keep my players fit for the Dutch League”

This type of psychological blundering doesn’t help. The team looks tired and unmotivated, something Koeman should be blamed for.

Van Gaal on the other hand uses statistics and cheap retorics to motivate his young team. Apart from the defeat against Werder Bremen in the UEFA cup quarter finals, they do not falter in the Dutch League. And are deservedly the number one in Holland.

Henk Ten Cate (Ajax) uses his typical Ajax’ bluff to tell everyone they will be the best of Holland after next weekend. “Every team will stumble unexpectedly. That’s the nature of football. We did it against RKC two weeks ago, PSV has been doing it in the last months. AZ has been lucky all around. But their luck will change and I predict a big upset for them against Excelsior Rotterdam. Why? Because my mate Ton Lokhoff is their coach and I am sure he will motivate his team to punish AZ. We will win the away game against Willem 2 so we will be crowned champions. Mark my words!”

Hahahaha….

Four days to go….