You Will End Up With Three or Four Goals”: Aad de Mos’ Warning to PSV Duo and Peter Bosz

Aad de Mos has identified a structural issue at PSV following their 3-2 defeat to FC Twente, with the former coach questioning the tactical level of Kodai Sano and Lutsharel Geertruida compared with Joey Veerman and Jerdy Schouten.

PSV appeared to be in control after taking a 2-1 lead at the Grolsch Veste, but Twente turned the game around in the final quarter of an hour to hand Peter Bosz’s side their first competitive defeat of the season.

De Mos believes the loss exposed problems in PSV’s positioning and defensive structure, particularly when the full-backs push forward and the midfield becomes stretched.

“There is a structural problem at PSV that I didn't see coming,” De Mos said in a video item by Eindhovens Dagblad. “From the back they surge forward and everyone flies forward. Even when they are in front. Dest and Mauro. And Geertruida and Sano are not yet Schouten and Veerman.”

The former PSV coach argued that players must maintain their positions rather than constantly moving forward and leaving space behind them.

“Everyone has to stay in their position and not start running around, rushing and sprinting,” De Mos added, as quoted by PSV Inside.

De Mos specifically pointed to Sano’s positioning and the relationship between the Japanese midfielder and Geertruida.

“If Sano does that, there will be a gap in midfield,” he explained. “That is not solved by the full-backs, who should stay. They will also keep running. Then there will be an enormous amount of space.”

According to De Mos, PSV were punished for exactly that against Twente and could face an even greater test when they travel to FC Porto in the Champions League on October 20.

“They fell for that against Twente. Bosz has to solve that problem. If you do it against FC Porto next month, then you will also end up with three or four goals against you,” he said.

The tactical adjustments become particularly important given the changes to PSV’s midfield this season. Veerman has departed, while Schouten has been unavailable at times, leaving Bosz to establish new combinations and responsibilities.

De Mos believes PSV still need time to develop those relationships, but insists the current balance has to improve.

“The Sano/Geertruida coordination needs to improve. You always have to look at your back line. It’s about how you do things,” he said.

He also acknowledged that PSV’s defending of the Twente attackers was below the required standard, but identified the midfield structure as a central concern.

“Of course, the way the attackers were also defended wasn’t good either. But with Sano, you miss the structural importance. Players still need to get used to each other.”

De Mos ultimately drew a direct comparison with PSV’s previous midfield partnership.

“The tactical ability of Geertruida and Sano is only not as good as that of Schouten and Veerman. In the matches where it really matters, you miss that,” he concluded.