Peter Bosz expects a more competitive Eredivisie title race this season, with the PSV head coach pointing to significant improvements at Ajax and Feyenoord as the main contenders look to challenge the reigning champions.

PSV became the earliest-ever national champions last season, but Bosz believes the landscape has changed after several rivals strengthened during the summer.

Speaking to De Telegraaf, as relayed by PSV Inside, the PSV coach singled out Ajax's recruitment as particularly significant.

“You can see that Ajax has strengthened enormously. They’ve invested in experience. A number of those players are doing extremely well.”

Bosz also highlighted Ajax's addition of Tolu Arokodare, describing the arrival of a powerful striker as something that is not particularly common in Dutch football.

“They’ve signed a big striker, something we don’t really know in the Netherlands. They’ve brought in a player with Julian Brandt, whom I personally know very well, who is almost made for the Dutch league. So that is a quality injection for Ajax.”

Feyenoord have also impressed Bosz, despite not being able to make the same level of financial investment as Ajax.

He praised the work of Gio van Bronckhorst and pointed to the return of Gjivai Zechiël, the retention of Anis Hadj-Moussa and the way Feyenoord have dealt with Ayase Ueda's departure.

“Feyenoord is also doing very well. I’m happy for Gio. It’s unexpected because, due to the finances, they didn’t do what Ajax did.”

Bosz added: “By bringing back Gjivai Zechiël, they now really have a strong team. They’ve kept Hadj-Moussa, which not everyone had expected, and up to this point they’ve handled Ueda’s departure well.”

AZ and FC Twente should not be discounted either, according to Bosz. While he believes they lack the experience of PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord when it comes to winning titles, their recent history shows that a championship challenge remains possible.

“AZ and FC Twente are simply still in the mix up to this point. They don’t have the experience that the other three clubs have when it comes to what is needed to become champions. But even then, and that FC Twente and AZ have already proven in the past, you can become champions.”

In a separate interview with Voetbal International, Bosz offered an unusually candid assessment of his own qualities as a former player and admitted he would not have selected himself for the current PSV side.

Asked whether he ever feels the squad is missing a player in the mould of Bosz himself, the coach was unequivocal.

“I would never have selected myself in this team. Never. I can’t play football well enough for that.”

Bosz explained that he played as a number six but believes PSV require a technically stronger player in that position.

“I was a 6, and in that position I actually want to have a very good footballer. For the other positions I was too slow.”

The comments underline Bosz's approach to squad management. Rather than building his system around a particular type of player, he adapts his tactics to the qualities available to him.

“I always look at: what do I have available and how do I fit that into a team?”

Even without a recognised striker, Bosz says his principles remain intact.

“But then we’ll still press high and play on the attack.”

His objective remains unchanged: build the best possible team from the players available while maintaining an aggressive and entertaining style.

“We’ll do everything we can to put it together as well as possible, so that we can keep entertaining the people, win the match, and play attractive and dominant football.”