Guide to Champions League 2007/08! PSV Eindhoven

PSV EINDHOVEN
Dutch champions
Champions League pedigree: European Champions 1988

THE LOW DOWN:
A run to last season's quarter-finals exceeded all expectations for PSV, with their ousting of Arsenal at the last-16 stage handing them a major scalp. However, the departures of defensive king-pin Alex to Chelsea, midfield veteran Phillip Cocu to the UAE and striker Arouna Kone to Sevilla ,leaves coach Ronald Koeman with a rebuilding job in this new campaign.

Without the finances or talent to compete with the elite of the European game, the side who snatched the Dutch title from Ajax and AZ Alkmaar in the most dramatic fashion possible back in April are something of an unknown quantity in this season's Champions League.

TECHNICAL AREA:
After a tough spell in charge at Ajax, Koeman's standing as a coach has risen dramatically in his two years at the PSV Eindhoven helm and he has done a great job in filling the considerable boots of Guus Hiddink. This former Holland and Barcelona defensive maestro is a cool customer on the touchline.

Preferring a 4-4-2 line-up against the majority of opponents, he has been known to take a more adventurous approach against some of the lesser lights in the Dutch league.

WOW FACTOR:
Jefferson Farfan has long been tipped to excel at the highest levels of the game and it seemed as if his time at PSV Eindhoven may be up after he was linked with a move to Spain during the summer, but this 22-year-old Peruvian scoring machine remains at the heart of Koeman's plans. He had formed a fine striking partnership with Arouna Kone, only for the Ivory Coast man to join Sevilla just before the transfer window closed.

Cocu could never be described as providing the glitz in the PSV side, but his brand of hard working industry made them tick and the tag of unsung hero will now be passed to the reliable Timmy Simons.

THE BIG BUY:
The departure of Kone left a hole in Ronald Koeman's squad and he has attempted to fill it with the signing of AZ Alkmaar's Dutch international striker, Danny Koevermans. With experience to go with a decent track record, he should be a decent foil for the gifted Farfan.

Koevermans is joined by fellow new-arrivals Kenneth Perez (Ajax) and Danko Lazovic (Vitesse) and PSV were also active in signing up some South American talent in the shape of Brazilians Jonathan Reis, Cassio Ramos and Fagner. All will take time to settle, but they offer an exciting mix of flair. Lazovic, especially, has impressed early on.

THE TENDER SPOT:
Their record on the road in the Champions League is not impressive and a lack of goals has also let them down at times. Those two areas will need to be solved if PSV are to emerge as anything other than nuisance value to the giants they will come up against.

Their other difficulty this season will be finding out which players are up to the task at Champions League level. So many of Koeman's revamped PSV side are new to this competition and they may just make their mistakes in the full glare of the watching millions.

HOT GOSSIP:
Linked with managerial positions at Manchester City and Tottenham in recent weeks, Ronald Koeman is a manager in demand. The Dutch great has opted to commit himself to PSV so far, but if a big club do come calling during the Champions League campaign, he may take the bait.

Star man Farfan is far from fully fit for the start of the Champions League effort and if PSV fail to get off to a decent start, they could be up against it in the battle to match last season's impressive run.

IDEAL LINE-UP:
Gomes, Kromkamp, Addo, Salcido, Da Costa, Zonneveld, Simons, Mendez, Afellay, Farfan, Lazovic

THE VERDICT:
Fortunate to make the quarter-finals last time, Koeman will need to produce a miracle to repeat that run this time. However, they have a decent group stage draw, so PSV could still be in the competition after Christmas