Kodai Sano has quickly earned praise at PSV, while Paul Wanner is still waiting to justify his significant price tag after the Champions League opener against Shakhtar Donetsk.

PSV began their 2026-27 Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk, earning a point at the Philips Stadion in a match that highlighted both the strengths and unanswered questions within Peter Bosz’s reshaped squad.

While a home victory would have been the ideal start to the European campaign, avoiding defeat also carries importance at the beginning of the league phase.

One of the clearest positives has been Kodai Sano. The Japanese midfielder has only been at PSV for around two months, yet his performances against Shakhtar and Ajax have already led to comparisons with former PSV midfielder Joey Veerman.

ESPN analyst Kees Kwakman believes it is still too early to make definitive judgements about where PSV stand at the European level, particularly after a summer in which the squad underwent significant changes.

“It’s of course a bit of a wait to see where PSV stands, from a European perspective,” Kwakman said on Voetbalpraat, as quoted by PSV Inside.

“There have also been some changes this summer in terms of players who have left and joined.”

Kwakman also raised questions about PSV’s attacking options, particularly the combination of Paul Wanner, Guus Til and Ricardo Pepi.

“I do find the core up front, with Wanner, Til and Pepi, well...” he said, before expressing his doubts.

“It wasn’t for nothing that last year it went the best with Til and Saibari up front. Also in terms of the ability to play football.”

Pepi, in particular, offers a different profile. The American striker is primarily focused on finding scoring positions rather than becoming heavily involved in build-up play.

“Pepi is really a true goal getter who waits, which is why in this kind of match you sometimes think, ‘is he even involved?’” Kwakman continued.

The analyst also pointed towards the need for players to escape pressure and create solutions when opponents press aggressively.

“And if an opponent puts a bit more pressure than you have to be able, every now and then, to turn away from your man, like Noah Fernandez can. And Wanner doesn't make it any easier for me either, even then. That's a bit of quality,” he said.

PSV invested around €15 million in Wanner more than a year ago, but the German-Austrian midfielder has yet to consistently demonstrate why the club made such a significant investment.

The price tag is therefore not yet producing the desired return, although there remains plenty of time for the youngster to develop and establish himself at PSV.

Sano, meanwhile, has already begun to make a very different impression.

The Japanese midfielder produced another strong performance against Shakhtar after also playing an important role in PSV’s victory over Ajax.

Former PSV player and analyst Danny Koevermans was particularly impressed.

“Kodai Sano has today shown that he is a worthy successor to Joey Veerman. He did extremely well,” Koevermans said.

That assessment was echoed by supporters on social media, with one reaction highlighting just how quickly Sano has adapted.

“If Sano can already be included at this level after just 2 months at PSV, then that would truly make him a fantastic player! He actually already is. For €15M, it's a bargain of the year!”

For PSV, the contrasting assessments underline the reality of a squad still finding its balance. Wanner has time to grow into his role, while Sano has already provided evidence that he can become an important midfield presence.

After the opening Champions League point, both investments remain works in progress, but Sano’s start to life in Eindhoven has certainly given PSV supporters plenty to be excited about.