Simons and Veerman shine for PSV in Gakpo's shadow
Karan Tejwani
- 28 Oct 2022 10:14 BST
- 4 min read
PSV secured a crucial win over Arsenal in the Europa League to secure qualification to the next round, and could still win their group if results go their way in the group.
The Dutch side secured a 2-0 success thanks to goals from Joey Veerman and Luuk de Jong – both of which came in the second half as their stars showed their best qualities.
Clubs across Europe have been taking note of some of the talent at PSV and while much of the attention is around Cody Gakpo, there are others emerging who are making a big name for themselves.
READ: Who is Xavi Simons? The ex-Barcelona & PSG wonderkid starring at PSV
Xavi Simons has been praised in recent weeks and was in the long-list for the players that could go to Qatar for the World Cup with the Netherlands, while Veerman himself is a talented player.
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Simons and Veerman shining for PSV
Simons has been a star for PSV this season. While Gakpo attracts the headlines for his goals and assists, Simons is regarded for his creativity and ability to influence the game in live play. Whereas Gakpo is reliant on attacking transitions to make an impact, Simons is the opposite.
He’s also great on the ball, with his control and explosiveness with it being a desirable attribute that many teams will want. So far this season, Simons has scored 10 goals and provided four assists, and has been one of the biggest surprises of the Eredivisie season so far.
READ: As good as Haaland! Man Utd or Arsenal should have signed Gakpo
Simons has been given more opportunities this season having left Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer last season and is finally showing the talents in a top-flight league, having earned a big reputation as a youngster when he was at Barcelona and the French side’s academies.
Veerman has also impressed in his time, and has formed a solid trio with himself, Simons and Gakpo, giving PSV a serious creative edge over the course of this season. It was a slight surprise when Louis van Gaal didn’t have him in the provisional Dutch squad for the World Cup, but he aims to prove why that was a mistake.
The 23-year-old has a variety of qualities, with his passing his best trait and he’s a great runner too, often making himself available in good spaces for his team-mates to find him. While there are some deficiencies in his game off the ball from a defensive perspective, he has proven to be good with it.
Over the course of the season, Veerman has played in a variety of midfield roles for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, but his best qualities are shown in an attacking midfield role. His talent is still raw, but at 23, he has time to improve and prove he’s worthy of earning bigger things.
PSV are more than just Gakpo. While he’s a talented individual, there are a host of talents in the team that can shine, and they’re young too, giving them the time to get even better and shine for their club. Tracking their progress over the next few years will be interesting to see.
Xavi Simons game by numbers:
100% dribble success
100% tackle success
13 duels contested (most)
10 passes in final third
6 possession won
2 chances created
2 shots
0.16 xG
Some talent. 💫 pic.twitter.com/R9eL8YrmPo— Squawka (@Squawka) October 27, 2022
Gakpo has been linked with a host of clubs this year, and in time, the same will be said for the other two. It could be argued that Simons is arguably a better fit for Manchester United than Gakpo, while Arsenal may want to keep a close eye on Veerman’s rise, having seen how good he can be first-hand.
Simons’ style and ability to play in a team that doesn’t just work in transitions could elevate the way Manchester United attack, and as he continues to get better, interest in him will rise, and his price will go up too.
For now, him, Gakpo and Veerman are shining in the Netherlands and it looks like they’re going to continue to do so for the rest of the campaign.
