Despite their weekend defeat to Roda, PSV Eindhoven’s caretaker coach Jan Wouters will stand by his players for tonight’s Champions League encounter with Internazionale.
PSV go into Matchday 6 needing a victory against the Group winners whilst also hoping that second-placed Fenerbahce fail to beat CSKA Moscow in Istanbul.
“We will obviously have to play less of an open game against Inter than we did with Roda,” said Wouters. “But I don’t feel the need to alter the team radically. Consistency in the starting lineup is also important.”
Striker Danny Koevermans will miss out though after straining a hamstring in training. His place will almost certainly be taken by Danko Lazoviic, back in contention after serving a one-game ban. Full-back Jan Kromkamp is unavailable after knee surgery, but fellow defender Manuel da Costa has overcome a knee problem although he lacks match fitness. Eric Addo is still suspended.
“We have a lot of young lads breaking into the first team, which is good, but we also need experienced players to give the team balance, and that’s something I think we are lacking at the moment,” admitted Wouters.
“I’ve heard people saying that Inter will send over a B team, but the players they can call on are still top quality and capable of excelling at the very highest level.”
Definitely out of the reckoning for Inter are Patrick Vieira (thigh), Olivier Dacourt (knee), Luís Figo (broken leg) and Dejan Stankovic, who has an achilles problem. Luis Antonio Jiménez is doubtful with a thigh strain while Zlatan Ibrahimovi?, Walter Samuel and Nicolás Burdisso are all banned. Yet despite this and the fact that they are already assured of qualification to the next round, coach Roberto Mancini said his understrength side will still try and win tonight.
“I’m not interested in experiments, as we definitely want to win,” said Mancini. “I will pick the best players available. We have respect for our opponents, and in a competition like this you should always try and do your best.”
