PSV's upcoming Champions League campaign is set to begin at home against Shakhtar Donetsk next week. However, Boulahrouz believes the team is still searching for its identity. "The last twenty minutes they came alive, but beforehand there were still certain automatisms missing," he said about the team's performance against FC Utrecht (1-6). "Everyone is still finding their way."
Boulahrouz also expressed concerns about the team's striker Ricardo Pepi, stating that he does not provide an important playmaking role. "Pepi doesn't give away the ball as a key playmaker. So, no, they're not at the level they were two years ago," he said. Pepi has started in all four Eredivisieduels and scored twice.
Ruud Gullit, meanwhile, is looking at how PSV controls games. "What I miss is that big clubs play in such a way that when they accelerate, they score two goals. Then they have the game in hand and let the ball go. Then they lure the opponent," he said. Gullit believes that PSV's ability to score many goals (fifteen in four duels) is not enough. "That doesn't interest me. It's about controlling the game. That control is missing in many teams, and that's the hardest part."
PSV will need to improve its game control if it wants to succeed in the Champions League.