PSV Eindhoven have been advised to target Connor Goldson and John Souttar as the Eredivisie giants embark upon a Champions League revenge mission against Mick Beale’s Rangers.
Mick Beale’s first-choice centre-halves, according to one former Eredivisie stopper, should have the visiting PSV forwards licking their lips in anticipation ahead of Tuesday night’s repeat of 2022’s UCL play-off against Rangers.
Conor Goldson and John Souttar are both solid, physical defenders who relish an aerial battle and are more than comfortable with the ball at their feet. Expect to see a few trademark Goldson diagonals and one of Souttar’s marauding runs into midfield as Peter Bosz’s side come to town.
But according to ex-Feyenoord man Kaz Ramsteijn – a centre-half in his own playing days – PSV could still have plenty of joy if they can catch Rangers in transition.
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“(Goldson and Souttar) are quite unwieldy and quite slow. That’s not great,” Ramsteijn tells Voetbal Primeur. “They can really be in danger with counter-attacks.”
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Bosz, if he is to maximise the pace at his disposal, may opt for Johan Bakayoko and Yorbe Vertessen at Ibrox. The injury-enforced absence of big-money summer signing Noa Lang means the jet-heeled Vertessen should be afforded the opportunity to maintain his superb start to the new season, while Bakayoko’s ‘incredibly explosive’ performances have led to links with Premier League trio Liverpool, Everton and Burnley.
“He did a great job the whole game,” Bosz tells ESPN of Vertessen, who is likely to start in Lang’s place on the left-hand side and scored in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Vitesse Arnhem.
“(Vertessen) was our most menacing man. He often seeks (to run in behind) and has speed. Well done.”
Rangers defeated Servette 3-2 on aggregate last week. Sam Lammers, should he feature for Mick Beale tonight, will go head-to-head with his old employers, while fellow Eredivisie imports Danilo and Cyriel Dessers have also come up against PSV in the recent past.