SHANGHAI, April 14 -- Chinese international defender Sun Xiang is keen to repay the faith shown to him by his current employer PSV Eindhoven by ensuring the struggling Dutch side battles back and retains its hold over the Dutch Eredivisie.

Sun, on six-month loan to PSV from Shanghai Shenhua, wrapped up a historical run in the Champions League with the Dutch side bowing out against Liverpool 4-0 on aggregate on Wednesday.

"The Champions League stints have been a real eye-opener for me but I have to leave the digestion of that for the future - at least for now," said Sun, who made Chinese history by becoming the first mainlander to play in Europe's premier competition.

The 25-year-old left winger has participated in four Champions League matchse since February, including a round-of-16 away leg against Arsenal.

"My priority now is PSV's domestic campaign, which has been a little shaky recently," Sun told Shanghai Daily in a telephone interview yesterday.

"I'm more than ready to throw myself into the final charge for the title, not only to secure myself a better future but also to repay PSV's confidence in me.

"It's more than a simple relationship between an employer and an employee.

"In fact, I feel grateful for the opportunity offered to me by PSV. It has raised my game to a new level."

PSV, which has been plagued by injuries to its star players, has gone on a six-game winless streak and pressure is piling up with archrival Ajax Amsterdam closing in just two points behind in the domestic league with just three rounds left.

Only two months ago, the title was seen in PSV's bag with a massive 11-point lead over its rivals.

Sun joined the Dutch side in January and could earn himself a permanent move after the season finishes.

"I was preparing for a rough ride when I arrived here," Sun said yesterday.

"But my confidence was boosted, thanks to my coaches, who trusted me with important roles in matches soon after I arrived. It was a real bonus.

"It would be fair to say that I am doing all this to earn a contract but there is also a genuine urge to repay the confidence they had in me."

Though it would take some effort before PSV manages to turn around its fortunes, Sun is upbeat about the team clinching its third consecutive domestic title.

"Everything is under control - at least for now," said Sun. "We just have to hang in there and get ours act together."