LUUK DE JONG: "THIS IS A PLACE THAT HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART"

After landing at midday yesterday from Eindhoven, the PSV squad got out onto the pitch at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, where the Dutch side will face Sevilla FC in the first match of the two-leg fixture in the UEFA Europa League Playoff round this evening. Just before the light session our opponent had out on the pitch, their coach Ruud van Nistelrooy and their target man up-top Luuk de Jong, gave their thoughts to those present in the press room.

The ex-Sevilla legend, hero in the sixth UEL victory in Cologne as he scored twice, recognised that "all the fantastic moments I have experienced here were in this competition. It holds a very special place in my heart. Playing in this stadium with great fans was incredible, and it was a shame not being able to have them here when COVID was around. We won the Europa League, but there is still this frustrating feeling in my gut that we were not able to celebrate with the fans."

With regard to the opponent he faces tonight, he claimed that "they have got a strong defence again after overcoming some injury problems. They arse stronger now than they were at the start of the season. It makes me happy that they are getting better and that they are climbing up the table in LaLiga." 

Another goalscorer who is now in the dugout, Ruud van Nistelrooy, also spoke about Sevilla FC: "The last four or five matches I have watched of them, they have seemed to be in good shape, playing well, getting good results. The confidence they have is greater than it was before the World Cup. Tomorrow will be a tricky match, but our objective is to show what we can do ourselves."

On the atmosphere, he said that when he came "with Real Madrid and Malaga the atmosphere was brilliant. It is a factor we have to have in mins. There are stadiums in Europa where the fans create a particularly impressive atmosphere. We know that will be the case playing on a European night at the Sánchez-Pizjuán."