PSV Eindhoven coach Guus Hiddink will encourage his team to adopt a positive approach for the vist of Lyon in tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.
PSV secured a valuable 1-1 draw in France in the first leg and Hiddink believes it would be counterproductive for his side to play for a goalless draw tonight.
All the talk was of Lyon prior to that gripping first leg, with Paul Le Guen’s side having plundered 27 goals in eight European games. Yet Hiddink had done his homework and it was the Dutch challengers who wrested the initiative when Phillip Cocu cancelled out Florent Malouda’s opener, meaning a clean sheet on Wednesday will see PSV through to a likely semi-final against AC Milan.
Hiddink, however, insists his team will not attempt to nullify their opponents, saying:
“We’re not going to play football with our backs against the wall,” said Hiddink. “That’s not our game and will not be our strategy. If we can score it will take the strain off our defence but we will not panic.
“One of this team’s strong points is that in the dressing room, in training or on the pitch everyone respects everyone else,” added Hiddink.
“The team has a common desire to perform which is beneficial to team spirit and results.”
Lyon, having won the last three French titles and being on the brink of a fourth, believe they are about to join Europe’s elite.
Paul Le Guen rested several players in the 2-2 draw with Nantes at the weekend.
Sylvain Wiltord, Sidney Govou, Cris and Florent Malouda all sat out the trip to Nantes and are set to return tonight.
“Resting players has had a positive effect,” said the coach. “The players feel good and are really up for the game.”
“For PSV it is a difficult situation: they have to decide whether to defend their advantage or attack. We know what we have to do; be compact, patient and attack intelligently. It would be foolish to expose ourselves early on; we saw last week that PSV have the ability to punish any openings.”
