Guus Hiddink has questioned PSV’s defensive organisation and attacking approach following their Champions League defeat to Club Brugge, arguing that Peter Bosz’s side left themselves unnecessarily exposed at the back.

The former PSV manager, who celebrated his 80th birthday, made his feelings clear during an appearance on ESPN’s Goedemorgen Eredivisie on Sunday morning, as the panel examined PSV’s 2-1 home defeat.

Hiddink was particularly unhappy with the defensive positioning that contributed to Club Brugge’s winning goal. He questioned why Lutsharel Geertruida was so far forward when the Belgian side launched the counter-attack that ultimately punished PSV.

The Dutch side had pushed aggressively in search of a victory, but Hiddink felt their attacking commitment came at the expense of defensive balance.

The former PSV boss focused on the moment Carlos Forbs was released into space, highlighting how far Geertruida had advanced before being forced to recover.

“The goal PSV conceded. Geertruida is standing up for the attackers in the penalty area of Club Brugge,” Hiddink said.

He was left perplexed by the defender's positioning, particularly given the distance he then had to cover to deal with the counter-attack.

“The match is going to Forbs and Geertruida has to go 70 metres back. I thought they were about to start winning. They forced it too much, in my view. He was the deepest attacker as a central defender,” Hiddink added.

His criticism centred on PSV's willingness to commit players forward without sufficient protection behind the ball. Geertruida's advanced position left the defence vulnerable when possession was lost, allowing Forbs to exploit the space.

The discussion also highlighted the positioning of PSV's full-backs. Fortuna Sittard coach Danny Buijs pointed out that the left-back had also pushed forward, while Aad de Mos noted that Sergiño Dest was operating on the right wing.

“It was a bit too much of a good thing,” De Mos remarked.

Hiddink's assessment was not simply about an individual defensive mistake. He questioned the overall balance of PSV's approach, suggesting that the team became too eager to force a winning result.

The former manager felt the Eindhoven side had appeared close to taking control of the match, but their attacking ambition ultimately left them exposed.

“It felt like PSV was going to win,” Hiddink said, as quoted by PSV Inside.

For Bosz, the defeat underlined the risks associated with PSV's aggressive approach. Their high defensive line and willingness to push players forward can create pressure and attacking opportunities, but the space left behind becomes a serious problem when opponents break quickly.

Hiddink's comments therefore raised a wider question about PSV's tactical discipline: how can they maintain their attacking identity without leaving their defence so vulnerable?

Against Club Brugge, the balance was not right, and the experienced former coach made it clear that he was far from impressed.