Former PSV goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus believes Matej Kovar is receiving far too much criticism and has defended the Czech goalkeeper following his performance against England.

Waterreus discussed Kovar on the Skiete Willy Podcast of Voetbal International after the PSV goalkeeper started for the Czech Republic in their Nations League meeting with England last Tuesday.

The Czech Republic were reduced to ten men before half-time and eventually lost 2-0 in Prague. Despite the defeat, Kovar produced an important save from England captain Harry Kane, something Waterreus believes deserves greater recognition.

Waterreus acknowledged that Kovar has made mistakes during his time at PSV, but believes the goalkeeper's positive moments are too often overlooked.

“I think Kovar is getting unfair criticism. I agree with everyone that sometimes balls come in that we think: mhaw… But a lot of balls also do not go in that we thought would be in,” Waterreus said.

He then pointed specifically to Kovar’s intervention against Kane.

“That save against Kane, everyone does not make that one. He kept things very solid against England.”

For Waterreus, Kovar’s performances cannot simply be judged by the errors that have attracted attention among sections of the PSV fanbase.

The former PSV goalkeeper also addressed the demands placed on Kovar within Peter Bosz’s system.

Waterreus believes the goalkeeper's difficulties at PSV can partly be connected to the way he is expected to play, particularly when he is required to operate high up the pitch.

“At PSV he often gets criticized that he often fails to seize opportunities; that may be because the coach demands it or because he isn’t helped,” Waterreus explained.

He referred to the equalising goal conceded against Weghorst as an example, but stopped short of describing it as a major individual error.

“I do think that equalizer by Weghorst was a mistake once. I don’t think it was a blunder.”

Waterreus did, however, question the positioning involved in such situations.

“But if you’re forty meters from the goal, yet you’re standing five meters in front of the goal, then you do things that you shouldn’t do.”

Waterreus ultimately believes Kovar has become an easy target among sections of the PSV support.

“I try to defend Kovar, because I really think he gets unfair criticism too often,” he said, as quoted by PSV Inside.

The former goalkeeper accepted that criticism of Kovar’s distribution and involvement in build-up play can be justified while also questioning whether every aspect of that role is dictated by the player himself.

“As for playing along, it’s often justified, but you can question whether that is his coach’s instruction. I do think it remains to be seen that he would play that badly as many people claim.”

Kovar remains backed by the PSV technical staff, but sections of the fanbase continue to question his performances.

One PSV supporter recently wrote on X: “I keep finding it unbelievable that there are still people who continue to defend Kovar. Nice that every now and then he has a defining rescue, but rarely have I seen a goalkeeper with so many crazy blunders.”

Waterreus’ assessment offers a different view, with the former PSV goalkeeper insisting that the criticism directed at Kovar has gone too far and that his positive contributions deserve greater consideration.