Returning Stevens plans PSV haul

Huub Stevens said "every prize counts" as he prepared to start his spell as PSV Eindhoven coach with this weekend's Dutch Super Cup against Feyenoord.

Title monopoly
Champions for the last four seasons, PSV will hope to maintain their Eredvisie monopoly under Stevens, who has returned to the club he served as a player, assistant coach and youth academy director. "I am glad to be back here," said the 54-year-old. "It feels like home. I have experienced a lot here, and the club has shaped me as player, coach and human being."

One-club man
A one-club man from 1975 to 1993, Stevens went on to coach Roda JC, FC Schalke 04, Hertha BSC Berlin, 1. FC Köln and Hamburger SV before returning home, and knows exactly what will be expected of his side at the Amsterdam ArenA on Saturday. "PSV has to go for every trophy," he explained. "And it would be fantastic to start the season with a trophy and a victory. Every prize counts."

Ins and outs
This summer, PSV have lost striker Jefferson Farfán to Schalke, goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to Tottenham Hotspur FC and midfielder Ismail Aissati to AFC Ajax. Reinforcements include young winger Nordin Amrabat from VVV Venlo and Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson from Manchester City FC, with Stevens said to be on the lookout for another striker ahead of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Verbeek hired
Feyenoord are also much changed from last season, and boast a new coach in former SC Heerenveen man Gertjan Verbeek. The UEFA Cup first round contenders have lost Nuri Sahin to BV Borussia Dortmund, but signed FC Twente midfielder Karim El Ahmadi and Denmark attacker Jon Dahl Tomasson from Villarreal CF. However, they will be seriously weakened by injuries for the curtain-raiser.

Injury ravages
Tomasson, Jonathan De Guzman, Andwélé Slory, Theo Lucius, El Ahmadi, Sherif Ekramy and Ron Vlaar all look unlikely to play while Roy Makaay is rumoured to have broken a bone in his right foot on Olympic duty. "It's a measure of how far we have come and one of three domestic prizes to win," said Verbeek of the Super Cup. "That makes it interesting. Top sportsmen always want to win a final."