PSV will not play in the strongest line-up against Omonia Nicosia on Thursday. Trainer Roger Schmidt will choose other players in a number of places during the Europa League game with a view to fitness.
“Today I will check all the data of the players and will talk to them about how they are doing. Then we will see what the best line-up is. I am not quite sure yet,” Schmidt said at his press conference on Wednesday.
PSV has already been qualified for the knockout phase of the Europa League. In the match against Omonia Nicosia in the Philips Stadium, only group win is at stake. After Thursday, PSV awaits four more matches for the turn of the year.
“I have two goals: to win as much as possible and to keep an eye on the physical condition of the players,” said Schmidt. “Not everyone comes to me to say that they are tired and want a break, but I can see that in them. Then I take the responsibility for that.”
It is not the first time that the PSV trainer has given players a rest. The German, who repeatedly criticized the busy schedule, did the same against Sparta Rotterdam last month and on Sunday exchanged a number of important players against sc Heerenveen.
Schmidt only revealed in his press talk that Timo Baumgartl and Nick Viergever will form the central duo of PSV against Omonia Nicosia. The match in Eindhoven starts on Thursday at 6.55 pm.
View the standings and the program in the Europa League
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