EXCLUSIVE
By Maximilian Bensinger & Christian Ehrhardt
PSV defender Marcelo is confident that his team can end their four-year wait for an Eredivisie title as they approach the new season.
Since the end of the last campaign, veteran coach Dick Advocaat has taken up the reins at the Philips Stadion, while former Netherlands captain Mark van Bommel has rejoined the club.
And the Brazilian is hoping the arrival of some new faces in Eindhoven can help them to a 22nd championship and end Ajax's stranglehold on the Dutch title.
"We have a very good team, and, with some of the new additions we have in the team, I think we can compete for the title," he told Goal.com.
"Van Bommel is a great player and has played for many top clubs in the world, like Bayern Munich and AC Milan, for example. I think he will help us achieve our goals this season.
"Last season we lost some games that we should not have lost, and we missed these points in the end. So I hope that we can focus next season, and be careful not to lose the same points.
"Last year we won the KNVB-Beker, and this year we should win the championship.
"The Dutch championship is very competitive. We have many teams that can be champions. Ajax, Feyenoord, Twente, PSV and even Heerenveen and Vitesse are trying to get to the top.
"That is why we have a very difficult season ahead of us and we need to be completely focused on every game."
The 25-year-old went on to praise the impact that Advocaat has had on the team, one that is raring to get started.
"He is a very good coach and makes us work hard in pre-season. He loves to train hard and that's a good thing. I think we are in top shape."
Finally, Marcelo revealed that he has turned down an approach from an unnamed Serie A team, but refused to rule out an exit from his current club in the future.
"I have another two years on my contract here. PSV are a great team and I'm very happy here. However, as you know, it's every player's dream to play in the big leagues like Spain, Italy, Germany or England, and I'm no different.
"There already has been a request to my agent from an Italian club, but I was not interested in going there."
The former Brazil Under-20 international represented Santos in his homeland, and moved to Wisla Krakow in 2008, before being signed by PSV two years later.
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