PSV began the tournament for the Otten Innovation Cup well, defeating Portuguese side SL Benfica 3–1. After the match, we spoke with PSV defender Rens Boon about the game.
Naturally, he was pleased with the victory: “It’s a super important win. The first match of a tournament is always important — you want to start well, and we did that.”
A real team
Boon was happy with the quick opening goal. He was also very pleased with how his team responded to the Portuguese equalizer: “The way we reacted to that goal we conceded — I think that really shows quality. I’m very proud of that. We are a real team; we help each other and are there for each other. I think that made the difference in this match.”
In top shape
According to Boon, PSV had no problems with the heat: “We are in top shape, both mentally and physically. We trained well, so we were well-prepared at the start of the match. After today’s game, we’ll make sure to eat, drink, and sleep well so we’re ready again tomorrow.”
Innovative rules
The Otten Innovation Cup is played each year with slightly different rules than usual. For example, there’s the self-pass, a temporary suspension for a yellow card, and a running clock with stoppage time. Boon said: “It’s tough, because the game goes faster. I think we made good use of the rules. Since we’re a team that likes to play football, I suspect it’s to our advantage.”
A dream stadium
This year, a stadium with room for 2,500 spectators was built at PSV Campus De Herdgang. Boon praised the facilities: “It’s beautiful. You dream of playing in stadiums, and now that we have one at De Herdgang, I’m personally very happy. It’s only a good thing for us.”
Tomorrow, PSV will play two more group-stage matches: at 11:00 against RB Leipzig and at 14:30 against Club Brugge. Both matches will be broadcast live on PSV Play and followed via a live blog on this website.