Luuk de Jong's starting place against Shakhtar Donetsk was not up for discussion. The PSV captain had to miss the match against FC Groningen, but will return to kick-off in the Champions League. “I have no reason to worry.”
Ricardo Pepi took the lead in the top scorers' rankings on Saturday, but will start on the bench again against Shakhtar Donetsk. De Jong is fit and starts at the point of attack. 'How long can I play? As long as I feel good,” the veteran said before the meeting with the Ukrainian top club at Ziggo Sport. “I'm 100 percent fit, so I'm ready to accelerate.”
Pepi's top form did not cause any doubts for De Jong. 'It's not that I've been away for a very long time or performed terribly. Of course, it remains a difficult situation when you have two strikers who are doing well. I am only happy with Ricardo, but I have also started well and am doing well. I have no reason to worry.'
Peter Bosz confirmed his captain's lecture. The PSV coach indicated that De Jong was given the green light, so he could also start in the starting line-up. 'That's right. That was a five second conversation. I asked if it went well and it went well, so then it is clear to me. I have two great strikers, but my job consists of making choices. That is sometimes not nice for a player, but it is what it is.'
Noa Lang also returns to the starting line-up. 'Noa trained fully yesterday and is also starting. A risk? There is always a risk. If you play so many matches, players will never be one hundred percent fit. There is always some risk. In this case it's not that big of a deal because it's more of a bruise.”
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