It was certainly not sparkling, yet PSV coach Roger Schmidt looked back with some satisfaction on the cup meeting with Telstar, which the Eindhoven team won 2-1. “We had to fight, especially after that early goal. But the most important thing in the cup is that you win. And we did that,” said the German at ESPN after the 2-1 win over the number 13 of the first division.
Schmidt missed a handful of players and kept Cody Gakpo on the bench, also with a view to Sunday’s top match against Ajax. The attacker had to go in after the break, with a 1-1 score, and saw Joey Veerman score the winning goal. “A number of players are not 100 percent. It is a puzzle every time. We cannot now play three games in a row in the same line-up,” said Schmidt, who cannot rely on basic forces such as Ibrahim Sangaré (Africa Cup) and André Ramalho (injured). After the break he pulled Mario Götze and Yorbe Vertessen to the side. Israeli Eran Zahavi was able to come back for the first time since November after a knee injury.
“It is never easy against a sharp opponent. Telstar did well. You have to accept that it will be difficult and keep looking for solutions. We have scored twice and won,” said Schmidt.
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