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‘Just like last season', is the headline in the Algemeen Dagblad’s Monday morning edition. ‘Phillip Cocu started off the new season the same way he ended last season: by scoring a goal. The PSV captain broke the deadlock and inspired his team mates to earn a well-deserved 3-1 win. Cocu’s opening goal was of symbolic value, as PSV looked an all but invincible fighting machine yesterday, just like during their home games last season.’'Commotion at PSV', is the headline in De Telegraaf, referring to the situation involving André Ooijer. 'PSV got off to a turbulent start to the new season. The comfortable 3-1 win over N.E.C. was overshadowed by the imminent departure of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and André Ooijer’s incapacity to make an appearance. Both coach Ronald Koeman and the PSV directors were exasperated with the defender’s decision not to play for PSV on the new season’s opening day. "If a player doesn’t want to play games, he will not be allowed to train with the club either. I felt forced to drop him from the squad. I am not going to call him up again," said Koeman. The newspaper reports also quotes Koeman on the Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink substitution. “I did not take him off to allow the crowd to show their appreciation for his outstanding career with PSV, but I have to admit things could be different next week.’ The Eindhovens Dagblad also pays a great deal of attention to Ooijer and Vennegoor of Hesselink. The local newspaper’s sports writer is rather critical of PSV’s performance. ‘PSV fails to make dream tart', is the headline above the match report. ‘Koeman must have seen his side earn as many as fourteen chances, some of them golden opportunities. He was content with the 3-1 win. “We were given a rough ride in the first period, but we failed to emphatically wrap up the game after the break. We won 3-1, but I feel the final score does not reflect the way we have been dominating the game after the interval.’ The ED also looks ahead to the near future. ‘Physical tests carried out by PSV fitness coach Luc van Agt have shown that the players’ fitness level is higher than in the previous four years. When their match fitness increases the next few weeks, Koeman will be able to focus on building the attractive and dominating side he has in mind. It is interesting to see how PSV will cope with the imminent departures of Ooijer and Vennegoor of Hesselink. The season will not be well underway until the close of the summer transfer window on 31 August.’De Volkskrant refers to PSV’s set pieces. ‘PSV-NEC showed that some things in life never change. Captain Phillip Cocu scored the opening goal of the season, just like he netted last season’s goal. On the stroke of half time he gave PSV the lead with a header from a Farfán corner, although N.E.C. coach Mario Been had warned his defenders at the training sessions. The Peruvian delivered another well-struck corner after the break, from which Vennegoor made it 3-0. That’s PSV for you: put in a rather poor performance and kill off the game in no time.’
