About thirty million euros. That huge amount is potentially at stake for PSV on Sunday during the last league match of this football season against AZ. The run-up to this crucial game is quite turbulent, due to the resignation of coach and club icon Ruud van Nistelrooij. The Eindhoven sports psychologist Joost Pluijms asked how you can prevent this unrest from causing even more damage to the Eindhoven football club.
“As a sports fan, I was surprised how things went at PSV on Wednesday,” says Pluijms. Van Nistelrooij’s immediate resignation came as a complete surprise to him – as it did to almost the entire outside world. The timing in particular is remarkable, right before AZ-out. That match is very important for PSV. “Apparently something serious happened,” says Pluijms.
PSV is now second and that place is good for a preliminary round of the lucrative Champions League. If PSV finishes third, it will be in the financially much less attractive Europa League next season anyway.
“Everyone reacts differently to such a situation.”
According to Pluijms, it is very important that PSV has given players and staff members room for mental recovery in recent days. “Because everyone reacts differently to such a situation. There may be players who think: ‘Finally!’ But there are people who are disappointed and think Van Nistelrooij is a great coach. One likes to talk about it, for example with teammates. Another will not want anything at all. He will do something outside football, that will give him peace.”
According to the sports psychologist, this will take at least 24 hours, maybe even 48 hours. “But the game is already on Sunday. So you have to ensure that everyone focuses on the game again. Because that’s what it’s all about.”
“I would say: stick to the plan!”
The big question is whether such a thing is possible in the short term. “That is very difficult, that will be the challenge,” Pluijms realizes. “You are now entering a new process. Assistant Fred Rutten now has to make the decisions. Can he get the relationship between the players – because there may be a lot going on in the background – to the point that there is a workable situation on Sunday? Is everyone prepared for the team? Perhaps Rutten will make small adjustments, other players in one or two positions. Or will he adjust the tactics slightly. “
Psychologically, according to Joost, it is important not to change too much. “I would say: stick to the plan. PSV has put up quite a good series after the winter break. You have also won four times against Ajax this season, so trust the things that have gone well. I’m really curious what Sunday will bring, because of course a bomb has exploded…”
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