Former U.S. striker Herculez Gomez believes Ricardo Pepi’s goal and assist in PSV Eindhoven’s 6-2 Champions League win over Napoli should spark a consistent run, urging the forward to keep pushing for a place with both club and country. Pepi has had inconsistent playing time this season due to injury, scoring two goals in six Eredivisie appearances.
Noa Lang has expressed frustration over his lack of playing time at Napoli, revealing he has only spoken to Antonio Conte once since joining in the summer. After being benched in a humiliating 6-2 defeat to former club PSV, the Dutch winger admitted he “has to accept” his situation while Conte warned he must avoid being “selfish” and focus on the team.
USMNT star Sergino Dest was dropped to the bench for PSV's impressive Champions League win over Napoli after arriving late for the match. Manager Peter Bosz explained why he had been left out of his starting XI after the 6-2 victory and was critical of the defender, making it clear he is trying to uphold high standards at the Eredivisie side as he bids to win silverware this season.
"Tiger tamer" Antonio Conte has vowed to "bring the whip" to his Napoli flops after their humiliating Champions League defeat to PSV, while hitting out at the club's summer transfer business. The Italian tactician watched in horror as his side were thrashed 6-2 in Eindhoven despite taking an early lead through Scott McTominay’s 31st-minute header. What began as a promising night for the Partenopei quickly turned into a nightmare, as they were torn apart by a ruthless PSV team that exposed every weakness in Conte’s outfit.
PSV Eindhoven delivered a stunning performance in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, dismantling Napoli 6-2 at Philips Stadion with American forward Ricardo Pepi making a significant impact off the bench. The 22-year-old striker needed just two minutes after entering the match to find the net and later provided an assist as PSV secured their first Champions League win of the season.
Napoli were stunned as they lost 6-2 to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday night, despite midfielder Scott McTominay scoring a creditable brace against their Dutch opponents. Antonio Conte's side came into the game following a 1-0 defeat to Torino and were hoping to bounce back, but were instead dealt a sobering defeat.
Napoli head coach Antonio Conte believes the team should treat their Champions League experience as a "school" and fully "absorb" the lessons it offers. He wants the club to carefully assess their position in the tournament, viewing this season's European campaign as a new journey. Conte has also called for patience, emphasising that the season will largely depend on how quickly the new players settle and integrate into the team.
Former national team star Alexi Lalas cast doubt on Ricardo Pepi’s chances of making the 2026 World Cup roster after the striker’s knee injury with PSV, noting that USMNT roster spots will only be more competitive - leaving injured players especially at risk of losing out as the tournament gets closer to kicking off.
Former USMNT star Landon Donovan is questioning the reliability of forward Ricardo Pepi and attacking midfielder Gao Reyna following their recent injury setbacks. The USMNT's all-time joint leading goalscorer suggested that availability issues could threaten both player’s roles in the national team under coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Former U.S. international Herculez Gomez says Ricardo Pepi's availability and fitness could be the deciding factors in whether the PSV Eindhoven striker secures the starting No. 9 role for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup. The 22-year-old forward recently returned for the Dutch champions after recovering from knee surgery that sidelined him for several months.
Former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas is optimistic about the national team's striker situation following Ricardo Pepi's return from injury for PSV. Though Folarin Balogun established himself with a strong showing earlier this month, Lalas said Pepi's return to fitness and form provides crucial competition for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
U.S. international Ricardo Pepi got back to what he does best as he got his first two league goals of the season in PSV's 5-3 win over NEC Nijmegen. The 22-year-old scored the game's opening goal in the 12th minute before scoring again in the 49th minute.
PSV Eindhoven
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