PSV midfielder Joey Veerman drops by his knees at the final signal and puts his head in his shirt. The most important player of last season is falling back on the grass. A strermining whistle concert sounds on Saturday evening in the Philips Stadium after the 1-1 against Willem II. It symbolizes the implosion of PSV: after a year and a half unprecedented dominance, now suddenly lost its way in just a month and a half.
Irritations and chagrijn are not so clear and heard before – with players, coach, supporters. PSV lost nine points in the last five Eredivisie duels, including a defeat against PEC Zwolle. Ajax, which won on Sunday afternoon at Fortuna Sittard (2-0) and has another catch-up game to go, is the leader again for the first time in 827 days. In points it is still right with PSV – and can therefore go out with an extra duel.
With twelve regular rounds on the program, an interesting, exciting title fight awaits. One that was not expected until recently – PSV was so much stronger for a long time. For the first time since he took office in July 2023, coach Peter Bosz has to deal with serious setbacks. The most important dilemmas in Bosz in highlighted.
1. Faulty dynamics
Still after the game against Willem II, captain Luuk de Jong might call ESPN the biggest problem. They do rule, take a long lead through a beautiful volley of Noa for a long time and have more ball possession and goal attempts. But the game is not dominant enough. “It’s all just a pace too low,” says De Jong. “There are not really big opportunities.”
Bosz’s playing method, with great pressure forward, listens closely. If everything is correct, opponents can be overwhelmed by fast, dynamic game. But it’s not without risk. As soon as the passing is impure, ‘holes’ are created in the back: large spaces that the opponent can attack.
The game against Willem II is exemplary for past weeks. Various PSV people, including attacker Guus Til, are particularly sloppy. PSV never finds its rhythm on Saturday, is offensive to be too predictable and is under pressure in the final phase due to the minimum lead. Just like against NEC last week (3-3), a victory is given out.
It is indicative that PSV has deteriorated in almost all important statistics compared to last season, according to data that NRC requested at OPTA. It shoots less, scores less, has fewer ball conquests in the most attacking part of the field and fewer ball contacts in the enemy penalty area.
The Expected goalsan important value that predicts the expected number of goals based on different statistics for coaches has decreased considerably from an average of almost 3 to 2.3 per match. At the same time, PSV gets more shots and goals against.
2. Convenience
From the beginning of the season it hangs like a shadow above this PSV: is the selection just as eager as last season in which it won the national title? A well -known effect in top sport is that after a peak in performance the motivation can fall back (temporarily).
Bosz and captain De Jong previously appointed that laziness. That it has crept in is unmistakable. Veerman said that he sometimes finds it difficult to motivate himself for ‘small’ competitions. After a 7-1 win over Almere City, he said to miss “a lot of challenge.” He was disappointed that he did not make a transfer abroad last summer.
There are more players where a relapse can be seen. Attacker Johan Bakayoko briefly brief Gallery Playbut then did not give at home in the Eredivisie. Defender Olivier Boscagli, who saw a transfer to England, regularly makes mistakes. And Jerdy Schouten, last season with Veerman De Schakel in the axis, is no longer flawless.
The biggest profit point for the transfer summer was that determining players remained. But it is doubtful whether the ‘hunger’ in the selection has done well.
3. Understanding positions
Seven minutes before time, left -wing Noa let his direct opponent run away for a long time: right back Mickaël Tirpan. The Willem II defender goes deep on the flank, there is a lot of space. The 18-year-old Wessel Kuhn has to take over. Kuhn has just entered PSV at his premier league debut. Kuhn ‘Haps’, Tirpan shakes him and makes the 1-1.
It illustrates the defensive problems of PSV. That line was reinforced this winter with Manchester United Rental Tyrell Malacia and in the summer with defenders Adamo Nagalo, Ryan Flamingo and Rick Karsdorp. But that cannot happen that Bosz has to introduce the inexperienced Kuhn in a crucial phase of the duel – partly a result of the long -term injury at Sergino Dest.
The same kind of problem plays in the front. The American reserve striker Ricardo Pepi is eliminated with a knee injury until the end of the season. Bosz wanted to add a striker as a back -for -go for De Jong, but technical director Earnest Stewart did not succeed in attracting a replacement. Where Peppi was often important in lock phases, Bosz could not contribute to Willem II anyone. What also does not help is that attacking midfielder Malik Tillman is currently aside with an ankle injury.
4. No interaction
Noa Lang challenging his finger on the mouth towards fans-his own fans-after the 1-0. And later again, if he has to give away a corner. Where Guus Til “What is!” Seems to call if he shoots a ball shortly before time.
PSV players miss the ‘interaction’ with their supporters, says Lang at ESPN. He believes that players are approached “very negatively” and that they “deserve more credit.” Bosz finds it absurd to point to the fans, the “sore spot” is the game of the team. But because of the fuss, he does have an extra care.