Sano: Veerman was the best midfielder in the Netherlands
Kodai Sano did not dodge the comparison. "Joey was de beste middenvelder van Nederland," he said (1) (3). In English: Joey Veerman was the best midfielder in the Netherlands.
But Sano is not trying to be Veerman. "Maar mensen kunnen ons ook niet met elkaar vergelijken. Ik ben een heel ander type voetballer dan Joey is" (1) (3). He said the fit is why he came: "Mede daarvoor ben ik naar PSV gegaan" (4).
PSV paid around €15m to sign him from NEC (1). Six Eredivisie games in, he has settled fast.
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Sano's first PSV goal came in the Sparta win
Kodai Sano scored his first goal for PSV in the 2–1 win over Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday, September 13 (1). One more data point in a start that has looked easy.
Van der Kerkhof still has one PSV dream left
Willy van der Kerkhof has one big PSV dream he still wants to live through. His words: "Wil dat meemaken" (2).
Malacia is training with FC Cincinnati
Tyrell Malacia is trying to restart his career. The former Feyenoord and PSV left-back, who left Manchester United and has been a free agent since the summer, is training with American club FC Cincinnati (5).
Twente away is next
PSV sit top on 16 points from six games, +15 goal difference, with four wins and a draw in the last five (W W W D W). The Champions League opener against Shakhtar Donetsk finished 1–1 at home on September 10.
Next up: FC Twente away on Sunday, September 20, 14:30 CEST.
Fan reactions
The numbers are the talking point. PSV have scored 22 goals in six Eredivisie matches, with Feyenoord on 20 and Ajax on 19, and fans are digging through the record books: only in 1961–62 was the combined tally for the traditional top three higher, when PSV scored 27, Ajax 25 and Feyenoord 21. Read the thread here. Elsewhere on r/PSV, one supporter has two tickets for PSV–Feyenoord's family corner but four rows between them, and is asking if anyone will swap seats. That thread is here.
