PSV Eindhoven failed to win the Eredivisie title in Roger Schmidt’s first season on charge, with Ajax absolutely dominating the league and finishing 16 points clear.
There were many positives in their season though, and the improvement that came with the new manager was evident.
A crucial part of their performance were the attacking players Donyell Malen and Eran Zahavi, who were the main figures in attack and often secured the three points for their team.
This scout report includes tactical analysis and looks into Malen’s performance and what made him the club’s top goalscorer with 19 goals and eight assists in 32 appearances.
Adding eight more goals in the side competitions underlined his importance for PSV even more as he showed consistency following two very successful seasons.
At the age of 22, Malen became the second-best goalscorer in Eredivisie’s 2020/21 season.
Becoming part of the Netherlands’ Euro 2020 squad is a huge step in his career and with an agent like Mino Raiola, Malen seems to be closer to a deal with Liverpool who are reportedly ready to pay 26M for his signature.
His proficiency and vision at this young age are definitely something that can make his ex-club Arsenal regret letting him go.
Main traits and how he fits PSV’s style of play
Malen is not the typical target-man and wouldn’t only stay in and around the box, waiting to receive a pass and utilise chances.
His style of play is way more complex as he relies on pace, passing and strong positioning to both create chances for his teammates and also take advantage of the opportunities in front of the goal.
He
