Theo Janssen believes Lutsharel Geertruida is an ideal fit for Peter Bosz’s playing style, with the PSV defender expected to return to the starting line-up for Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League meeting with RB Leipzig.

PSV travel to the Red Bull Arena for the 9pm kick-off after beating sc Heerenveen 2-0 last Friday. Geertruida, who is on loan from Leipzig, was named among the substitutes for that match after returning from international duty with an injury, but did not come onto the pitch.

Janssen believes having the defender fully fit again would provide PSV with a significant boost against his parent club. Speaking on Ziggo Sport’s Rondo, the former midfielder highlighted Geertruida’s ability to combine defensive responsibility with quality in possession.

“His influence is great. When you look at PSV centrally at the back, he is the one who handles defending for Flamingo and the footballing of Schouten,” Janssen said.

“Geertruida can also play good football. I think he adds a lot. This is an ideal player for Peter Bosz’s style of play.”

Former PSV manager Guus Hiddink also weighed in on the discussion, pointing to the defender’s physical presence and authority compared with the other centre-backs.

“He also has more presence than the other central defenders,” Hiddink said.

Ruud Gullit offered a further observation about Geertruida’s tactical role, suggesting that his movement into midfield can help PSV create numerical advantages during possession.

“He plays more in midfield to create a situation for one more man,” Gullit explained, as quoted by PSV Inside.

The comments underline why Geertruida could be important against Leipzig. His ability to defend centrally, contribute to PSV’s build-up and move into midfield gives Bosz another option as his side prepare for a demanding European test.

Although PSV’s 2-0 victory over Heerenveen provided a positive result ahead of the Leipzig match, the performance did not end the debate surrounding their defensive vulnerabilities.

The win delivered PSV’s first clean sheet of the season and their first since 11 April 2026, when they defeated Sparta Rotterdam 2-0 away from home.

After the Heerenveen match, Bosz told NOS that keeping a clean sheet felt good and suggested the team could now put the criticism surrounding their defensive record behind them.

Those remarks surprised former PSV striker Wim Kieft, who challenged the suggestion that the issue had been resolved.

“Yeah, is he done with the complaining?” Kieft asked during NOS Studio Sport Soccer.

He then pointed to the opportunities Heerenveen had created, arguing that PSV could easily have conceded more than once.

“But don’t they have that too? And on Friday they could also have had three against them,” Kieft said.

Presenter Sjoerd van Ramshorst also highlighted the open nature of the contest, noting that there had been a period when PSV appeared vulnerable to the visitors' attacks.

Kieft remained unconvinced by the suggestion that the victory had fully settled the concerns.

“Yes, but that attitude of: ‘what nonsense.’ But it’s not nonsense, because they have structural defensive problems,” he concluded.

PSV head into Tuesday’s fixture with momentum after their domestic victory, but the debate over their defending remains unresolved.

Geertruida’s expected return could strengthen Bosz’s back line, particularly given Janssen’s assessment of his influence in both defensive organisation and possession.

Against Leipzig, PSV will need more than a clean sheet on paper. They must also show that they can limit the opposition’s chances while maintaining the attacking approach that defines Bosz’s side.