PSV Eindhoven earned a valuable 1-1 draw away to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League group stage. Shining throughout, Ismael Saibari was named UEFA’s Man of the Match. Yet the Moroccan attacking midfielder experienced a bizarre incident that caused him to miss the start of the second half.
A story about socks
At the restart, Saibari was forced to wait a few moments before returning to the pitch. The reason? His habit of cutting holes in the back of his socks, a practice deemed against regulations by UEFA officials.
“I’ve been doing it for years because I have strong calves, and it helps relieve the pressure. It has nothing to do with superstition,” the player explained.
At first, he had to play with regular socks in the first half. Then, during the break, he was granted permission to alter them. But ultimately, as he was about to return to the pitch, the referees once again forbade it. The result: a rushed change of kit and a delayed return to the field.
Third goal in three matches
This incident didn’t stop Saibari from shining. Having already scored against Ajax and Excelsior, he netted his third consecutive goal in all competitions. “From the moment I controlled the ball, I knew where the goal was. As the coach always says, I just had to stay calm,” he said with a smile.
A PSV on the rise
Beyond his individual performance, Saibari highlighted PSV’s collective progress: “We rediscovered our positional play from last season. Everyone was moving, asking for the ball, and combining. Defensively, we hardly conceded anything, apart from one individual mistake. This was our best match of the season, a solid foundation for what’s to come.”
