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An interview with PSV manager Guus Hiddink (PSV.nl)

14 jan 2005 - Source: PSV.nl

This newsitem has been supplied by PSV.nl

PSV.nl had an interview with PSV manager Guus Hiddink, in which he comments on the preparations for the second period of the current campaign and in which he gives, among other things, his views on the championship race.Have the preparations come up to you expectations?"Yes, they have, but next year things may very well be completely different. With the introduction of play-off games and the increase of fixtures in Holland, also in the festive season, we need a large squad. Many of our players are also regularly called up for their national teams and every two years they are on the international stage, during the European Championships or the World Cup. Our management has to anticipate on that and it may be necessary to rest some players at times."There have not been any transfer-window activities in Eindhoven yet."That’s right. You never know and in the world of football things may change overnight, but it looks like we won’t sign any new players in the January transfer-window. There has been a preparatory meeting with Roda JC striker Koné, but the negotiations were not even started, when it became soon clear that Roda were not willing to do business. However, we have a stable squad and have performed well in the first part of the season."The PSV midfield is the driving force behind the successes. Are you glad Van Bommel will stay with PSV until the end of the season?"Well, I have never been in any doubt that Van Bommel would leave during the winter break. If he leaves, it will be at the end of the season and he will only make a move to one of the top clubs in Europe. It’s true that our midfielders have a lot of brains and show much passion. Cocu and Van Bommel have gained much experience, but so has Johann Vogel. He had a rather reluctant start to the season, when he came back from the Euro 2004, but he has staged a wonderful comeback and has shown much progress the past few months. We can vary our play in midfield, though. Depending on the situation we can field some other midfield players as well with either offensive or defensive ideas."Feyenoord have strengthened their squad, Ajax have signed a new striker, AZ will have a new coach next year. Is there any news on PSV?"Feyenoord were very optimistic before the start of the new season and predicted that 'it would be our year'. So naturally there is some turmoil and they are now ambitious to strengthen their defence. We don’t have to so such things, but we should be aware that we should not be over-confident. After all we dropped five points in our last two games."Do you think AZ will perform less, now that Co Adriaanse has announced he will leave?"Oh, no! It won’t affect the players at all. They have tasted success and the sweet taste of success is addictive."Wouldn’t you love to coach a national team during The World Cup 2006 in Germany?"I have always openly discussed this issue during the negotiations about my contract. I won’t miss the chance when the opportunity presents itself, but believe me: nothing is going on at the moment. The World Cup 2006 will be played some 60 miles from here. I will certainly consider an offer if it comes along; it might be a good thing for PSV as well, but, again, there is no news in that field right now."Which trophy would you prefer to win as a coach: the national title with PSV or the World Cup with a national team?"I think these events are not on one and the same day! Isn’t that a nice, diplomatically correct reply?"PSV will first meet NAC Breda in the domestic league on 22 January and three days later PSV will entertain FC Volendam in a cup tie. Will these two games set the tone for the second part of the season?"We have to be ready for these two fixtures by then. The league game indeed sets the tone and as we all know it just takes a few matches to get Cup success. It is a wonderful idea that we can still compete for three trophies."