Leicester will on Thursday take on PSV Eindhoven in the Europa Conference League. They are up against a very special club and of course one of three major teams in Holland. They are a giant compared to Leicester with two major titles in Europe, UEFA Cup winners in 1978 and also with Gus Hiddink as manager winners of Champions League in 1988.
A long time ago, but still been a top contender in Dutch football being last league winners in 2018. Currently they are 2nd four points behind Ajax and still in the race for the league title.
We will see a team coming in a traditional 4-3-3, but can also be seen as a 4-2-3-1 as they change the triangle in midfield using two sitting and one in front, behind one forward. Their German manager Roger Schmidt is of course a good tacticion and he will most certainly play with a compact midfield.
We do have a number of players in their team that is well known with their top star being Mario Götze, previously a World Cup winner and Borussia Dortmund favorite. Götze faded a bit, after scoring the goal in the 2014 World Cup final that did see them lift this trophy for the first time since 1990.
Götze joined PSV in 2020 and at 29 just signed a new three year deal and getting those exciting European games and of course playing in a top club competing for all domestic trophies. One other player to watch is young midfielder Noni Madueke who has earlier been seen linked with a move to Leicester.
The 20 year old attacking midfielder who also can be played on the flank is one to watch as the former Spurs recruit will most certainly play his part. He is also a team mate of Leicester defender Luke Thomas in the England U.21 set up.
Their team is build up with players from several nationalities with New Zealand international Ryan Thomas another interesting player. He has been out for a while and didn’t play in the latest Dutch league games vs. Twente (3-3).
Their forward Joey Veerman is also one to follow, signed from Heerenveen in January and at 23 a special talent to watch. Winger Eran Zahavi is also one with talent. The Israel international is an exciting winger at the age of 34 and still performing at his best. Zahavi has in 70 internationals scored 33 goals for his country.
Joel Drommel will be their goalkeeper a new recruit signed from Twente and still only 25. Teze was also one of three Dutch players to start in their last league game, the rest were players from other nations. Another player to watch is Japanese midfielder Ritsu Doan.
PSV has been a supplier of grand talent to the Dutch national team and the names are many and the likes of Ronald Koeman, Ruud Gullit, Rene and Willy van de Kerkhof are just four of their best. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Mark van Bommel, Mateja Kezman, Arjen Robben, Ronaldo and Romario are a few others.
Looking for players in both camps you will find a few. Jeffrey Bruma is one, the tall defender spend a time on loan at Leicester during his days at Chelsea. He later joined PSV and played for the club from 2013 to 2016 adding up 94, scoring 7. He played 11 league games for Leicester, scoring twice. He is currently with Turkish club Kasimpasa and at present 29 years of age. Patrick van Aanholt is another player with a life both at Leicester and PSV, though his time at PSV was as a junior, joining Leicester on loan from Chelsea back in 2011, playing 12 games scoring 1.
We are looking forward to the game on Thursday.
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