Kenneth Perez praised PSV’s performance in Amsterdam, highlighting their intensity, attacking quality and tactical solution to Jerdy Schouten’s absence.

PSV’s 3-1 victory over Ajax on Saturday evening earned Peter Bosz’s side three important points on the fifth matchday of the Eredivisie and dealt an early setback to their Amsterdam rivals.

The match at the Johan Cruijff Arena unfolded at a high tempo, with both sides creating opportunities before PSV ultimately took control. Lutsharel Geertruida marked his starting debut for the club with a spectacular goal just before half-time, sending PSV into the interval with a 2-1 lead.

For ESPN analyst Kenneth Perez, the quality and intensity of the contest made it an enjoyable encounter. Speaking on Dit was het Weekend, Perez was particularly impressed by PSV and their ability to maintain a high level throughout the match.

“I enjoyed PSV,” Perez began in his post-match analysis, as quoted by PSV Inside.

The former midfielder pointed first to the pace of the contest.

“Because the pace was very high,” Perez said when discussing Ajax-PSV.

He also identified Geertruida as an important tactical weapon for Bosz, particularly given Schouten’s absence through injury.

Geertruida operated in a role that allowed him to move into midfield, providing PSV with another option in possession and helping the team compensate for the loss of Schouten.

“And there was also some high-quality football. There were many beautiful attacks, runs into depth, and the ball was played with a lot of quality. PSV has also been able to cover the loss of Schouten tactically now, by having Geertruida slide into midfield,” Perez explained.

The Dutch international defender made an immediate impact on his starting debut, contributing to PSV's structure and producing one of the defining moments of the match with his stunning strike before the break.

Perez’s assessment underlined the tactical significance of Geertruida’s role. Rather than simply replacing an absent player positionally, PSV found a way to alter their structure and retain control in midfield.

The ESPN analyst also saw a clear difference between the two teams as the match progressed.

According to Perez, Ajax were able to compete during the earlier stages but gradually lost their shape and intensity after the hour mark.

“After an hour, it all fell apart at Ajax. The distances then get so big. I thought PSV was very strong. They have an extra gear when it really matters,” Perez said.

That extra gear ultimately allowed PSV to take advantage of the spaces that appeared as Ajax’s structure deteriorated.

Fellow ESPN analyst Kees Kwakman then highlighted another decisive factor in the contest, pointing to the impact of the changes made from the bench.

“And the substitutions for PSV worked out better than those for Ajax,” Kwakman said.

Perez agreed, arguing that Ajax’s replacements struggled to cope with the demands of the match.

“All the substitutions for Ajax were players who hadn't played for a very long time. They simply couldn't keep up with the high intensity of the match,” Perez said.

The victory therefore offered PSV more than just three points. It demonstrated their ability to adjust tactically, maintain a high tempo and exploit an opponent as the match wore on.

For Perez, PSV’s display in Amsterdam was another indication that the Eredivisie champions possess a level that can be difficult for opponents to match when the game reaches its decisive stages.