Ivan Perisic Critiques PSV’s Team Dynamics Ahead of Arsenal Clash

Players from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven must unite and exhibit greater teamwork if they wish to have any hope of overcoming Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday, according to Croatia international Ivan Perisic, who spoke ahead of the last-16 clash.

PSV heads into the fixture following two consecutive losses to Go Ahead Eagles last week — first in the Dutch Cup semi-final on Wednesday and then in the league on Saturday — which has left them in second place, eight points adrift of leaders Ajax Amsterdam.

“We are not functioning as a team,” claimed the 36-year-old Perisic, who joined PSV at the start of the current season, during a recent press conference.

“Our performance has been lacking. We must come together as a team, which we are failing to do right now. We aren’t supporting one another, and that frustrates me.

“It’s imperative that we rectify this situation swiftly. We need to give our all for the remainder of the season, as there’s still much to play for.”

Perisic mentioned that the squad has acknowledged the issue, noting that their recent slump in domestic form is in stark contrast to their Champions League advancement, where they triumphed over Juventus in the knockout round playoffs last month.

“Why are we lacking teamwork? That’s something we’ve discussed. We create plenty of opportunities and score goals, but we must improve when it comes to our defensive duties. We need to put in the hard work and play for one another,” he explained.

Coach Peter Bosz also provided his insights, stating: “There are numerous small factors currently hindering our chances of victory, but those small things hold significant importance.”

In Monday’s press conference, both Perisic and Bosz faced a majority of inquiries regarding PSV’s domestic struggles rather than their upcoming challenge against Arsenal, whom they will host in the first leg at the Philips Stadion.

“I recognise that PSV’s decline is dominating the headlines instead of the match against Arsenal tomorrow, which is unfortunate for football enthusiasts,” added Bosz. “We are among the top 16 teams in Europe. It’s commendable that we have reached this stage.”