PSV manager Peter Bosz believes his side can take confidence from their performances against FC Porto and Feyenoord, despite missing the opportunity to close the gap on the Eredivisie leaders after Sunday's 1-1 draw at the Philips Stadion.

Guus Til gave PSV the lead with a superb volley before half-time, but Anis Hadj-Moussa equalised after the break as Feyenoord recovered from a difficult opening period. PSV created further opportunities but failed to find a winner, leaving Bosz frustrated with the result.

Nevertheless, the manager remained encouraged by his team's response following a difficult run of domestic results and their midweek Champions League victory over Porto.

“We played with our heads held high, but we didn't win,” Bosz said after the match. “And yet, we have managed to draw confidence from this week.”

One of the notable decisions in Bosz's starting line-up was the deployment of Ruben van Bommel as the central striker. The 22-year-old had not previously played in that position, having typically operated on the left wing, but the PSV manager was pleased with his contribution.

PSV have been without an established centre-forward option, and Bosz acknowledged that the absence of a natural striker might have affected his side's ability to convert their chances.

“We don't have an out-and-out striker,” he explained. “Perhaps that plays a role, though I thought Ruben filled the position well today. We wanted to catch the opposition off guard, and I think we succeeded in that.”

Bosz also outlined the tactical advantages of his decision, particularly the opportunity to preserve the partnership between Ivan Perisic and Filip Kostic.

“There were several advantages to setting it up this way. For instance, it allowed the pairing of Ivan and Filip to remain intact. I also felt Ivan had an aerial advantage over Read,” he added.

Van Bommel had two opportunities to score but sent both efforts over the crossbar. Despite his failure to convert, Bosz felt the chances themselves were encouraging.

“As for Ruben, he had two chances, though he sent both shots over the bar. Still, the opportunities were there, and that's always something to hold onto.”

Bosz faced criticism following PSV's defeat to ADO Den Haag, which marked their third loss in four matches. However, the victory in Porto and the performance against Feyenoord have given him reason to believe his team are moving in the right direction.

The PSV manager felt his side carried their improved form into Sunday's contest, even though they could not turn their dominance into three points.

“I think the conclusion is that I was proven right following last week,” Bosz remarked, as relayed by Rik Elfrink of Eindhovens Dagblad. “After that, we played very well in Porto and won. We carried that form into this match, though without the desired result.”

He added that PSV had done enough to win the contest.

“I believe we were the better side against Feyenoord, and if anyone deserved to win the match, it was us.”

While acknowledging Feyenoord's individual quality, Bosz was critical of the defending that allowed Hadj-Moussa to equalise.

The winger cut inside from the right and found the far corner with an excellent finish, exposing space around PSV's defensive line.

Bosz believed the situation could have been handled better, pointing to a loss of possession from Lutsharel Geertruida and Mauro Júnior's positioning.

“Lutsharel lost possession, which was unnecessary. Furthermore, Mauro was just a step too far away, leaving space for a shot. Filip did a good job of shielding the outside. If Mauro had been just one step closer, he could have blocked the shot,” he explained.

Despite the setback, Bosz insisted that the title race remained open, with plenty of time for PSV to recover the four-point deficit.

“There is plenty of time to make up those four points, and ultimately, it all comes down to which side proves to be the most stable team,” he said, acknowledging that Feyenoord currently hold that advantage.

Bosz also explained that his decision to replace Kodai Sano was driven by the desire to find a winner, with Shuryjano Cornecion brought on in the hope of offering more attacking threat.

For PSV, the draw was a missed opportunity. However, Bosz believes the performances against Porto and Feyenoord provide a platform from which his side can rebuild momentum and remain in contention for the Eredivisie title.