PSV’s Mauro Júnior injured – Luuk de Jong question mark for Sunday

PSV temporarily without Mauro Júnior, De Jong still question mark

PSV will have to do without Mauro Júnior for a while. He suffered a knee injury during a training session last week and has left for examination in his native Brazil.

How long trainer Ruud van Nistelrooij will have to miss the midfielder is not yet known. “We have to wait for the investigation,” Van Nistelrooij said Friday. “It is a big loss.”

The 23-year-old Mauro Júnior has been sidelined more than once this season because of injuries. First because of a groin injury and then with a shoulder injury.

It is still doubtful whether Luuk de Jong will be able to play Sunday against SC Cambuur. The striker suffered an ankle injury last week against RKC Waalwijk. “The recovery is progressing well. Whether Cambuur comes too soon should become clear in the coming days,” Van Nistelrooij said.

Ten Hag proud of United’s recovery

Manchester United could not have wished for a better recovery after Sunday’s 7-0 defeat against Liverpool. Yesterday, manager Erik ten Hag’s team won 4-1 over Real Betis in the Europa League.

“It always remains to be seen how a team reacts after such a setback,” Ten Hag told BT Sport. “But we were able to reset ourselves, this team showed character.”

Ten Hag thought his team played well especially in the second half. “With the performance we were also able to give something back to the fans, because they stayed behind us. I am very grateful after Sunday.”

Wout Weghorst scored his first goal at Old Trafford. The shadow striker fired in the fourth goal in the closing stages.

Of the four championship contenders, Ajax has the toughest program on paper this weekend. The Amsterdammers play an away game against a club from the left row: sc Heerenveen.

For Feyenoord, AZ and PSV, home matches with relegation candidates are on the schedule. Although they will of course want to sell their skin dearly and the Rotterdammers and Alkmaarers have European obligations behind them.

In short: plenty to look forward to this weekend.

Reiziger to leave Ajax after this season

Michael Reiziger is leaving Ajax at the end of this season. The 72-time international of Oranje will not renew his expiring contract, because he wants to work as head coach himself.

The former player of Ajax, AC Milan, FC Barcelona and PSV, among others, has been an assistant at Ajax since 2019. Before that, Reiziger (49) had two years Jong Ajax under his care. With the promise team he became champion in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.

Ajax apparently does not see a head coach in Reiziger, because this season they chose first Alfred Schreuder and then John Heitinga.