Valentijn Driessen believes PSV’s lack of squad depth played a significant role in their 1-1 draw against Feyenoord, arguing that Peter Bosz is facing a rebuilding process that could make winning a fourth consecutive Eredivisie title difficult.

PSV took the lead through Guus Til in Sunday’s clash at the Philips Stadion, but Anis Hadj Moussa equalised after the break to leave the reigning champions four points behind league leaders Feyenoord after ten matches.

Writing about the result, Driessen pointed to PSV’s growing list of absentees and the limited options available to Bosz from the bench. With several established players unavailable, the journalist believes PSV are struggling to maintain the strength that helped them dominate Dutch football over the past three seasons.

Driessen argued that PSV are once again having to rebuild following their third consecutive championship, with the departures of Joey Veerman and Ismael Saibari adding to the challenge.

The situation has been made more difficult by injuries to captain Jerdy Schouten, Alassane Pléa, Sam Lammers and Ricardo Pepi. Schouten and Pléa are expected to remain unavailable until the winter break, while Veerman and Saibari have also left the club.

“After the third championship year, PSV is once again in the process of rebuilding. If the departure of key pillars like Joey Veerman and Ismael Saibari doesn’t deal a blow, then Bosz also loses the third exponent of his championship team from the past few years: Jerdy Schouten,” Driessen wrote.

The journalist also highlighted the absence of Sven Mijnans, who was suspended for the Feyenoord match. With the midfielder unavailable and three strikers sidelined, Bosz had fewer options to change the game when PSV needed another goal.

“And what can you expect if the new designer, Sven Mijnans, is suspended and sitting in the stands against Feyenoord, with next to him three long-term absent strikers?” Driessen added.

He believes PSV’s immediate priority should be to limit the damage before the winter break, when reinforcements could help them launch another title challenge.

“For PSV, the goal is to do as little damage as possible in this first half of the season so that, after repair work on the winter transfer market, the hunt for the fourth league title can be opened,” he continued.

Despite his concerns, Driessen acknowledged one positive aspect of PSV’s difficult situation: Bosz has increasingly turned to younger players to fill the gaps in his squad.

The manager has given teenagers opportunities during a period when injuries and suspensions have restricted his choices. Driessen credited Bosz for showing confidence in the club’s emerging talent but warned that youth development alone would not guarantee another championship.

“It is to Bosz's credit that he, partly out of necessity, has an eye for the youth, giving teens confidence, but that does not mean it will be four titles in a row,” he wrote, as quoted by PSV Inside.

Driessen was particularly critical of the impact made by PSV’s substitutes against Feyenoord. Bosz introduced Shuryjano Cornecion, Dennis Man and Mikkel Bro Hansen as he attempted to find a winner, but the changes failed to deliver the desired result.

“The substitutes against Feyenoord to decide the match in PSV's favor told the story: Shuryjano Cornecion, Dennis Man and Mikkel Bro Hansen. Obviously, the trio couldn't break pots,” Driessen concluded.

He also singled out Cornecion, who lost possession unnecessarily on two occasions but was fortunate that Feyenoord failed to capitalise.

For PSV, the draw highlighted the challenge of balancing an ongoing title defence with the need to rebuild. Bosz’s side remain within reach of the leaders, but Driessen believes their ability to compete consistently will depend on how effectively the club addresses its squad shortages, particularly when the transfer window reopens in January.