PSV Eindhoven caretaker boss Dwight Lodeweges sees the Eredivisie
clash with Feyenoord as a meeting of the two great underachievers
and said: "It's time for both sides to look in the mirror.''
Lodeweges' team are the reigning champions but qualification for
the Europa League looks to be the best the fifth-placed side can
hope for now, while Rotterdam giants Feyenoord are five places
further down the table after a disastrous season wrecked by injury.
PSV's latest setback was another draw against Champions League
hopefuls FC Twente last week and the coach said: "Feyenoord and
PSV were fighting for top spot last season, now we are in fifth
and Feyenoord are even worse.
"It's time for both sides to look in the mirror.''
Lodeweges added: "We have a lot of talent, but it is talent that
is still developing and we don't have the luxury of time, we are
a team which must always challenge to finish in the top three.
That's reality. We shouldn't run away from that.''
Nevertheless he is relishing the clash between two of Holland's
traditional big three.
"Feyenoord v PSV is always an attractive game,'' he said.
"As a player you always want to play in front of 50,000 people.
"We have learned a lot from the last two games versus Heerenveen
(a defeat) and (the draw against) FC Twente. We must not fall
into the same traps again.''
Feyenoord are enjoying a relatively fruitful period having gone
three games without defeat, beating NAC Breda last time out.
Feyenoord coach Leon Vlemmings said: "I still believe we can end
in the top eight in the Eredivisie and get a Europa League play-
off place. A victory helps a team, I noticed that on Monday after
we beat NAC, the atmosphere at the club was much better.''
After the home game with PSV, Feyenoord travel to Alkmaar to face
runaway league leaders AZ and Vlemmings is relishing both fixtures.
"They are great games for us,'' he said.
"PSV are ideal opponents. At De Kuip an opponent never wins easily,
and it is a chance to continue the momentum we have gathered in
recent weeks. We are looking forward to these games.''
Vlemmings is without Tim de Cler (knee), Ron Vlaar (knee) and
Jonathan de Guzman (knee), while Denny Landzaat and Tim Vincken
are still recovering match-fitness.
Kevin Hofland was knocked unconscious in the win over NAC but is
expected to be fit to face his old PSV team-mates.
PSV goalkeeper Henk Timmer is touch and go as he battles back
from a knee injury, while Nordin Amrabat will serve a one-match
ban.
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