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Crisis overshadows top match
Saturday 20 December 2008
There is unrest at both clubs although
the problems at the one team seem slightly bigger than
those of the other.
A victory in their encounter is
crucial for both the reigning champions PSV (4th) and
for Feyenoord (12th) to not worsen the situation any
further.
Feyenoord are in danger of sinking
towards the bottom spots.
The gap with number 16 Vitesse
Arnhem is only three points.
The team of Gertjan Verbeek have
not won any of the last five games and the fans are
running out of patience even though the criticism is
mostly directed at the club's management, not so much
at the coach.
Verbeeks knows the importance of
their game in Eindhoven.
"But our situation is different
than that of PSV," Verbeek said on Friday.
"In my opinion PSV are still
in the race for the league. For us it's a matter of
trying to scrape the points together. Let's try to get
back to the top half of the table."
Verbeek will again have few options
in the Philipsstadium tomorrow, although captain Giovanni
van Bronckhorst and forward Diego Biseswar return fro
injury.
But Tim de Cler, Kevin Hofland,
Jonathan de Guzman, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Denny Landzaat,
Serginho Greene, Ron Vlaar and Tim Vincken are still
out.
"But with Giovanni on the
left the buildup should go a bit smoother," Verbeek
says.
Looking at PSV Verbeek is slightly
envious: "Just have a look at their bench. They
have far more possibilities than we have. On top they
will be able to bring in new players during the transfer
window. For us things are different. But we have a chance
in this game as PSV are not as unbeatable as they have
been in previous seasons."
Feyenoord lost seven of their fifteen
games this season, PSV lost five.
But in their own stadium the Eindhovenaren
are doing okay with only one defeat so far.
When tomorrow's results isn't good
the position of coach Huub Stevens will be under even
more pressure as the gap with leaders AZ is nine points
already.
Contrary to Verbeek Stevens has
been more outspoken about the situation, often in a
negative way.
There was a conflict with Edison
Mendez and Carlos Salcido and Danko Lazovic insulted
his coach.
Salcido is out for Sunday's game
with a groin injury and Mendez is unsure.
Stevens: "But we know what
we need to do against Feyenoord."
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