The opening week of the UEFA Champions League has already provided Dutch football with cause for concern. Feyenoord suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat away to FC Barcelona, while PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 at home against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The results have prompted a strong response from De Telegraaf journalist Valentijn Driessen, who was highly critical of both Dutch clubs in his latest column.

Driessen believes PSV's failure to find a way through Shakhtar's defensive structure exposed a major weakness in Peter Bosz's team. In particular, he argues that PSV lack an effective alternative when their usual approach is neutralised.

“PSV has a lot of trouble playing through a team that sits deep in its own half and erects a defensive wall. Chasing along and following the play is its big weakness. The fact that PSV has no plan B and barely managed to create a chance at home is what makes one fear the worst,” Driessen wrote.

The journalist's concerns are partly rooted in PSV's experience from last season. Bosz's side failed to reach the Champions League round of 16, with a poor start contributing to their eventual elimination.

PSV lost their opening match 3-1 against Union Saint-Gilloise, and the campaign never fully recovered. Driessen believes the early results this season could once again raise uncomfortable questions about the ability of Dutch clubs to compete at the highest level in Europe.

“Last season, PSV missed out on the round of 16 partly due to a false start (a 1-3 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise in the opening match). It was then concluded that the Eredivisie had no place in the Champions League. That danger threatens again after the false start by Feyenoord and PSV,” he wrote, as quoted by PSV Inside.

Driessen was equally scathing about Feyenoord's performance at Barcelona, arguing that the Rotterdam club appeared to approach the occasion with the wrong mentality.

“The school trip syndrome and the Olympic idea that taking part is more important than winning seeped out. So Sem Steijn celebrated as if his honorary goal was the winning one,” Driessen wrote.

Feyenoord captain Luciano Valente was also singled out for criticism. Although Valente admitted that conceding five goals was too much, Driessen questioned the midfielder's assessment of the team's overall performance.

“Captain Luciano Valente found five conceded goals too many, but he enjoyed it. Together with Anis Hadj Moussa, Zechiël and Valente did have a nice action in the match. But for Valente to proclaim that you don't fall short at that level… Then your colleagues may put you on the ground with both feet,” he wrote.

Driessen then turned his attention to several other Feyenoord players, with goalkeeper Tjark Ernst and Javi Lopez among those criticised.

“Leaving aside the dramatic goalkeeper Tjark Ernst and the equally dramatic Javi Lopez, Givairo Read was the biggest disappointment,” Driessen stated.

“The much-praised right-back was indeed right when, after the deflection of the million-euro transfer to AS Roma, he said that he still had a lot to learn at Feyenoord.”

For Driessen, the contrasting failures of PSV and Feyenoord have created an early European warning for Dutch football, with both clubs now needing a response in the remaining Champions League fixtures.