PSV is thundering through the Eredivisie and Red Devil Johan Bakayoko (20) is one of the strongest players in the team from Eindhoven. PSV coach Peter Bosz believes that our compatriot can go very far, but has even more praise for another old acquaintance.
Played 16 matches, won 16 matches. 48 out of 48. 56 goals scored, only six goals conceded. Wintering in the Champions League. PSV’s figures this season can only be called phenomenal. One of the key players in the team from Eindhoven is our compatriot Johan Bakayoko. Across all competitions, he has four goals and thirteen assists in 27 games this season. Yet the Belgian winger had quickly left the Philips Stadium behind him this summer, because the English Premier League club Brentford wanted to pay forty million for Bakayoko. But he ultimately refused to accept the offer, partly thanks to the advice of his trainer Peter Bosz.
Bosz warned Bakayoko not to go abroad too early. “Justin Kluivert is the best example. When I was a trainer at Ajax he was seventeen and he left too early. Sometimes players have to be patient,” said Bosz, who saw Kluivert leave for AS Roma at the time. Kluivert was unable to break through and was sold to Premier League club Bournemouth this summer after a series of loans.
“I had that conversation with Bakayoko. I said to him: ‘If you go now, you will be seen as the little Belgian player who comes from PSV. If you win titles with us, perform in the Champions League and play for the Belgian national team, then things will be different.” And Bakayoko listened, because he stayed in Eindhoven. “And he was right,” Bosz knows. “This is his first year as a starter and the most difficult thing is to remain consistent. Johan was fantastic against Arsenal (in the 1-1 draw in the Champions League, ed.), but I want him to be fantastic every weekend.”
Bosz already believes that Bakayoko has the potential to play in a top competition at a top club. “I think so. But we still have a number of players. There are also Malik Tillman (21) and Ismael Saibari (22), but the best is perhaps Noa Lang. He’s incredible. Unfortunately he is injured, but he is only 23. He has personality, is fast and a good dribbler.”