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PSV Eindhoven manager Peter Bosz has acknowledged the daunting challenge his team faces as they prepare for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie against Arsenal.
Arsenal secured a resounding 7-1 victory in the first leg at the Philips Stadion, leaving PSV with an almost insurmountable task at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners, already eyeing a potential quarter-final clash with one of Madrid’s two giants, hold a commanding advantage.
Bosz, speaking ahead of the return fixture, admitted that overturning such a deficit would take something extraordinary.
“You don’t want to come across as unambitious, but you also don’t want to come across as foolish,” he said. “It’s going to take a miracle for us to get through this.”
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Despite the overwhelming odds, Bosz is keen for his players to put on a stronger performance and avoid another heavy defeat.
“I think everyone who was on the pitch last week doesn’t want to experience that again,” he said. “We want to show that we are better than that. You are playing against a top club in a great stadium. Everyone who started playing football as a little boy dreams of being here in the Champions League. We are very motivated to make it a real match.”
With the tie seemingly decided, both managers are expected to make changes to their starting line-ups. Reports suggest that Bosz is considering resting key players to preserve their fitness for upcoming domestic fixtures.
“For me, the league is the most important thing,” he admitted. “Some guys deserve to play and get the chance to show themselves.”
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Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains focused on maintaining his team’s momentum and ensuring a professional display.
“It is unique, but we also have to understand how the game was played a week ago,” Arteta said. “Everything went in the right direction for us from the beginning, but we have to earn the right again tomorrow. We’re fully focused on that.”
The Gunners will be looking to seal their place in the quarter-finals without any unnecessary drama, while PSV aim to salvage pride in what appears to be a mission impossible.
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