PSV watcher Yannick Wezenbeek does not call the departure of trainer Ruud van Nistelrooij, who immediately resigned, very surprising. “You saw that coming after this season. The moment when he leaves is very remarkable.” Former trainer Aad de Mos is also not surprised. According to him, Van Nistelrooij was treated unfairly.
PSV will play against AZ on Sunday. “That match is important for the future of PSV,” says Wezenbeek. “Assistant Fred Rutten will be on the bench on Sunday, but he will not be head coach next year. It was clear that things did not go well in the staff and with the players.”
Former PSV coach Aad de Mos already sensed that the situation at PSV would explode. “It’s great that Ruud kept the honor to himself. This was a stab in the back. As general and technical director you should never speak behind the back of the trainer with a delegation of the players. If something is going on in the selection the coach must be there.”
Keep nothing secret
According to De Mos, that happened a month or two ago. “That was then disguised by the good results. You can’t keep anything a secret in football. That always comes out through a player or agent. In terms of content, I don’t know what the complaints were. There will probably be a positive reaction against AZ on Sunday of the players. After all, they have complained.”
De Mos expects that there will be a new trainer for the group next season. “The umpteenth. That is unworthy of PSV.”
Conversations
After several discussions about internal affairs that have taken place in recent weeks, there was a meeting on Tuesday evening between the management and Van Nistelrooij.
On Wednesday morning, Van Nistelrooij announced his decision to the Eindhoven club. The trainer lacked support. For example, there was criticism of him from the group of players and it did not go well in the staff. Van Nistelrooij was in his first year as head coach at PSV.
Not rosy
The resignation of Van Nistelrooij completely surprises former player and trainer of PSV Huub Stevens. “They have had conversations about the situation and it was not rosy. PSV has opted for a young inexperienced trainer, surrounded by a few experienced people. An inexperienced trainer can make mistakes. The team has not developed well. But is it the players or the coach? I do not know. For that you have to be in the dressing room and on the training field. Something made Ruud decide to make this decision.”
According to Stevens, this situation will put even more pressure on the team for Sunday’s game against AZ. “Then it will become clear whether the team can withstand that.”
Stunned
Rob Bogaarts, chairman of the official supporters association of PSV, is stunned by the decision of the trainer. He calls the situation at the club ‘a mess’ and fears the worst for the important match against AZ.
Bogaarts: “The club did not want to get rid of him. With all due respect to our trainer, but it is of course a very unfortunate moment, a few days before the all-decisive match against AZ. The focus should have been on that. And not on a possible disturbed relationship in the coaching staff and between trainer and players.”