The discussion in Amsterdam began with the players who will and won’t be available on Sunday. "Weghorst, Youri Regeer, and Remko Pasveer will not be part of the squad. However, Christian Rasmussen is in good shape." Getting Weghorst fit in time was a race against the clock. "It’s disappointing that we couldn’t manage to have him ready for Sunday. Both for me and for him. We did everything we could, but we can’t go against natural recovery."
Anton Gaaei is also unavailable after his red card against AZ. Farioli was clear about his replacement. "We have options, as different players have played in that position before. Of course, Lucas Rosa is one of them," he responded when asked about the Brazilian.
There was also other medical news from Eindhoven this week. "Yes, we received the news about tuberculosis. Since then, we’ve been in close contact with PSV’s medical staff. All necessary precautions have been taken to ensure safety. If there are any updates, we’ll be informed."
Match in Eindhoven
Looking ahead to the game, Farioli was clear: "Both teams will give their all." However, he refused to call it a decisive match. "Of course, it’s an important game, but the reality is that there are still 24 points left to play for this season. The other matches are just as important. The attention we give to matches against lower-ranked teams is the same as for those against top teams. That’s how I work, and by now, you all know me: we take it match by match."
Would he be satisfied with a draw? "That would mean we start doing calculations, and I don’t do that. We step onto the pitch with a clear mindset, aiming to get the best result possible. We know we’re playing against the current champions of the Netherlands. We must give our all on Sunday, and that’s exactly what we’ll do." Even a win wouldn’t change much for the manager. "It’s still just a match worth three points. Whatever happens, nothing will be decided in Eindhoven."
"I have great respect for them," Farioli continued about Sunday’s opponents. "They have a strong squad and an experienced manager. And of course, they have ups and downs—just like every team. That’s football."
Pressure and objectives
For Farioli, the question of where the pressure lies on Sunday is irrelevant. "Certainly not with us. I don’t know if PSV feel the pressure, but that’s beyond my control. A bit of pressure is always there in a big game like this. But it’s up to us to handle it well. You have to live with it in the right way. We’ve already played plenty of matches under these circumstances. Even for me personally, I’m leading a group that knows exactly what to do, day in and day out."
"I had a conversation with Alex Kroes yesterday, and he reaffirmed that our main priority is securing UEFA Champions League football. That means finishing in the top two, and even third place is acceptable—anything beyond that is a bonus. The reality is clear: we’re not there yet."
