Sergino Dest made his first competitive club appearance in seven months on Tuesday night in Glasgow and while many players might’ve been a bit rusty under the bright lights of UEFA Champions League Qualifying, Dest looked anything but nervous.
Dest delivered a positive debut in PSV’s 2-2 first leg draw with Rangers at Ibrox Stadium, logging the first of what him and U.S. men’s national team fans will be many appearances for the Eredivisie club. The 22-year-old arrived on a season-long loan from Barcelona on Monday, giving him a new opportunity to play regularly and continue his overall development in Europe.
After registering 80 minutes in his first club appearance since January 24, Dest admitted he was prepared for the challenge and his manager Peter Bosz was pleased with his left back’s debut.
“I felt fit and powerful enough to start,” Dest said postmatch to reporters. “It was an advantage that I already know [PSV forward] Noa Lang, because it went well against him I think we can look to next week with confidence.”
Dest was on the field for all four goals in the first leg showdown, watching as PSV fought back from a 2-1 deficit to tie things up in the 80th minute. He was lively at left back, completing over 90% of his passes and five dribbles to go along with his strong defensive work on the other end of the field.
PSV will now have a bye week from Eredivisie action before welcoming Michael Beale’s squad to Eindhoven for the second leg on August 30. Dest knows a better overall performance will be needed to book their return to the UCL group stage, but believes the home-field advantage should help at the Philips Stadion.
“We must and can be better and that also applies to myself,” Dest said. “Physically I have to grow further and that opportunity is now available at PSV. For me this is not a step back at all, because I think we can go for the title with PSV.
“Tonight we could have gotten more out of the game, but next week we have to finish this,” he added. “At home, with the public behind us and then we have the advantage.”
JR,
It’s a mistake to draw too many comparisons between the USWNT and the USMNT.
Completely different expectations and timeline.
The USWNT is the most successful team in the history of their game. That’s the bar.
Their next tournament is the 2024 Olympics, which they should be expected to win. That’s the bar.
Realistic or not.
Something significant is going to happen very soon with that program, like it or not.
The USMNT is more laid back. There’s no basis for comparison of the two programs.
It’s like comparing the Beatles to the Jonas Brothers.
first off, and some people thought this was a great move but i was concerned PSV sees itself as elite and above the rest of the eredivisie — with this exception PSV is not starting the americans. they aren’t starting league and this is the first “cup game” start when teams often get into their second string. pepi is only sometimes subbing. tillman isn’t seeing the field. i had hoped maybe stewart would help us out but he’s GM and the HC decides who plays.
second, i thought dest was at times shaky on defense and part responsible for the 2nd rangers goal, where the ball leading to the cross is played over his head. eredivisie scores are entertaining but the market will dry up or narrow for his services if he can’t defend his position.
This is a Champions League qualifier absolutely no one is playing their second string. The difference from winning this qualifying series is around 12 million euros in prize money. Basically to make up the difference between losing this series to Rangers, PSV would have to win the
Europa League title.
That’s interesting. And large. Twelve million Euros is about half of PSV’s typical annual payroll.
dude, you can say this all you want — and it follows as logic but is it fact –IMO they use some of their second string in their european and cup games. you can say there is money on the line but that’s a theory in search of it being how they actually operate. what i think you miss is these teams understand that chasing league is primary and also part of the process of keeping them eligible for something european next year. you also miss that they can pick isolated games — say, home vs rangers — to make more effort towards.
i think the part that confuses american fans is they want to believe x is a starter and having not paid close attention to use patterns confuse reputation with real usage. if a few guys who have sub minutes suddenly start a cup game, PSV is mixing in second string. now, that may be an opportunity to show something where if the coach changes his mind or someone is hurt, you then actually start for a period. you can become starter.
re tillman, all due respect but he is a loan player they aren’t very committed to, and his only appearance so far is jong PSV ie the reserves. he has dressed a few times — ie is seen as fit. this is they are either questioning his quality or don’t feel like he’s integrated in their approach yet.
re the rest, per usual i see certain spin artists trying to basically adopt my thoughts and say exactly what i did but spin it as i am somehow saying the opposite. my general point re PSV was i wasn’t as optimistic as others. this has proven true so far. the rest is noise.
“re the rest, per usual i see certain spin artists trying to basically adopt my thoughts and say exactly what i did but spin it as i am somehow saying the opposite. my general point re PSV was i wasn’t as optimistic as others. this has proven true so far. the rest is noise.”
A couple of games into the season and you have PSV all figured out. I doubt PSV have their team figured out yet.
What were others so optimistic about that they were so wrong about?
DeJong, Sangera, Babayako, and Veerman have started every match for PSV including 3 CL Qualifiers (Sangare and Veerman have played every minute this season). Lang has started every match he’s been fit for (missed 2 with sore hammy). Babadi and Saibari have split the time equally at the 10 position. 8 of PSV’s starters against Rangers have started every match this season (battle at 10, spot and Lang, Van Asnholt injuries). PSV didn’t rotate. You might have rotated, Man City might have rotated but these teams didn’t so sorry if that doesn’t fit your narrative. You’re arguing that only you saw this coming. Look at the comments Vacqui and I have been making the last couple weeks, everyone saw it coming. DeJong was going to start and get most of the minutes especially early. Two other factors on Tillman. Babayako and Sangare are still linked with bigger clubs and may still move leaving minutes for Malick. Tillman did not play any preseason matches. Yes he dressed but his fitness and sharpness after two weeks properly no where near what it needs to be especially spending the summer recovering from injury.
——————
As for Dest if both LBs hadn’t been hurt I don’t think he would have immediately started. I do think he’ll beat out Teze at RB once Van Aanholt or Mauro Junior return. PSV have 4 FBs out with injury this week.
Hmmmm……is it possible that the reason PSV is not starting the Americans is because entitlement doesn’t fly in Europe or maybe because of the fact a lot of them don’t have the “elite professional mindset” (eat, sleep, train and live soccer) or maybe because there are better players in that position or maybe, and I hate to say it, these Americans are just not good enough to start…..yet?
I will be the first to agree with you that there are SOME MAJOR BIASES when it comes to US players and coaches in Europe but if you are good enough to play or are needed in a certain position, they will play you, but THEY JUST WILL NOT GIVE IT TO YOU. It’s up to the player to kill stereotypes, MAINTAIN AT A HIGH LEVEL, day in day out, make good decisions and to show they belong…..even if it’s your second day, like Sergino Dest lol
IV,
“— with this exception PSV is not starting the americans. they aren’t starting league and this is the first “cup game” start when teams often get into their second string. “
This was the Champions League, not pre-season.
Champions League is important in Europe.
PSV were always likely to field the best team they could.
“pepi is only sometimes subbing.”
It seems American people failed to pay attention when Earnie signed Pepi. Because Danielle’s BFF made it clear that Pepi was an investment for the future, bought to learn from DeJong, who just so happens to be their captain and a very important player.
“With Luuk de Jong, we have the best header in the Netherlands, but with the number of matches coming up, you want to have double coverage in every position,” Stewart added. “Ricardo is still very young, so this transfer is also an investment for the future.”
Here’s the link just for those of you who think it is a made up lie.
https://sbisoccer.com/2023/07/psv-acquires-usmnt-forward-ricardo-pepi
“tillman isn’t seeing the field”.
He was formally loaned to them two weeks ago. PSV has played three matches since Malik’s loan was finalized. He’s recovering from the injury that ended his last season. Rangers were his old club and he probably would have had a better game had he played for Rangers rather than for PSV in that game.
Concern over “American” Malik not getting on the field at the moment is pretty silly.
Dest is more match fit than Mailk is and there was no reason to not play him.
“i had hoped maybe stewart would help us out but he’s GM and the HC decides who plays.”
Why would he? Because Earnie is an American citizen?
Is PSV supposed to be Fulham? By the way were all those Fulham American players signed by American executives? Fulham learned about McBride because of his successful loan at Everton, which was the result of a successful loan ( I know how much you despise loans) at Preston North End , where McBride impressed a young David Moyes who later took McBride to Everton on loan .
Pepi, Malik and Dest are now on the roster under Earnie’s watch. He already had Richie on the books.
That’s not enough “helping us out” flag waving for you?
How many other Eredivisie clubs have that many potential USMNT players on their books? How many Euro clubs, period, have as many potential USMNT players.
Greedy, aren’t you.
If you watched him in more or less the same role at AZ, letting his managers manage the roster was his MO.
as expected, the WNT have started getting chatty. horan questions how well prepared they were and notes that ultimately they only get a few 10-day camps every few months to try and get the best out of the team. those of you who have to black vs. white everything i say — and think it’s ok if we blow 10 days on him pondering whether to stay, then a few more months hiring a new GM/HC — should take note.
horan also gets into other stuff that should resonate with MNT fans. she asks for “the most simplicity” suggesting the tactics were overcomplicated. she says the players were tense and not enjoying their soccer or showing their individuality.
the irony of her comments is when the push to change US soccer style from bradley ball hit c. 2011 one of the critiques was we lacked a sort of messi individuality on the ball. after chatting that up and a few coaches later, i feel it’s just regimented in some other way. i thought this summer underlined what both teams need is the coaching the heck out of the way of the talent. coaching is supposed to be value added. tactics are not for show but a tool to win soccer games.
Then you have Kingsbury saying they were well prepared in training then the match would be different. Everyone is trying to say things without saying things, including Carli Lloyd. I think one of two things Vlatko either didn’t trust the team and would change things frequently or there were players on the team that would go and change his mind. I think what is 100% clear is the team liked Vlatko as a person but had no trust in his plan. I’m surprised that there has been nothing from USSF on the timeline for hiring. Although with the men it went very quick once it started, we heard oh first rounds are done and vague descriptions of the candidates and then 2,3 days later it was done. Crocker is working full time for US now, it should go quickly. Reis at Norway, Preistman in Canada, Voss with Germany, your fav Sundhage in Brazil all had terrible tournaments as favorites, they’re all still employed so the US is moving faster than the other nations for what that’s worth.
JR,
It’s a mistake to draw too many comparisons between the USWNT and the USMNT.
Completely different expectations and timeline.
The USWNT is the most successful team in the history of their game. That’s the bar.
Their next tournament is the 2024 Olympics, which they should be expected to win. That’s the bar.
Realistic or not.
Something significant is going to happen very soon with that program, like it or not.
The USMNT is more laid back. There’s no basis for comparison of the two programs.
It’s like comparing the Beatles to the Jonas Brothers.
dude, if you marinate burgers then at the last minute put them in the fridge and decide to make homemade pizza, and rush around trying to find/make crust, sauce, etc., you didn’t “prepare.” someone is confusing either practicing hard or preparing to do A with actually doing B. which is not preparing at all.
re “not trusting the team,” he seemed to want to use the older players and sub very little. this may reflect an empty cupboard or it could have reflected he made a bad bet on the veterans and having resisted the youth, they had little experience and he didn’t want to risk it. here’s the thing about that — conservatism is its own risk and they went home in part for it.
IV: both Horan and Kingsbury’s comments are confusing because they’re contradictory and also don’t seem to lineup with what we saw with our eyes. Horan indicated the players just ignored Vlatko and did their own thing but that doesn’t jive with Sonnet starting. Also contrary to Horans comments it didn’t work. From Alyssa Thompson’s comments and Sophia Smith it seems there was a divide between the older players and younger players that Horan hints at as well. Even with Vlatko’s tactical deficiencies, if the team had been together and working for each other they had the talent to win. Vlatko was supposed to be a vibes guy but the vibes on the team apparently weren’t good.
JR
“From Alyssa Thompson’s comments and Sophia Smith it seems there was a divide between the older players and younger players that Horan hints at as well”
This has been a problem with them in the past.
The teams get so together, so tight, that when transition time
rolls around, it is easy to get these divisions if the transition is not managed well.
Especially when it seems like there was a lot of turnover all at once and the team seemed to be missing effective veteran leadership.
This is a two year cycle team so if people are upset about it, the build up to the Olympics should solve that and give critical fans something new to focus on.
That’s why I love the two year cycle.