PSV was taken by surprise by Ruud van Nistelrooij’s decision to step down as head coach with immediate effect. The former top striker made this announcement to technical director Earnest Stewart on Wednesday morning, after it was agreed on Tuesday to lift the decision about the match against AZ. “He surprised me with the message that he would stop immediately,” Stewart said at the inserted press conference.
“Welcome to this not-so-nice meeting”, General Manager Marcel Brands said at the opening. “We were surprised this morning by the announcement that Ruud will immediately stop as head coach of PSV. In recent weeks, there have been a number of conversations with Ruud about a number of internal matters. To avoid a misunderstanding: we have referred the group of players to the trainer.”
Stewart explains how he got the news. “Yesterday Ruud was already with me, as is often the case,” said the technical director. “We had a conversation, in which we agreed to take the decision over the weekend. This morning when I arrived at the club, I was in the office and Ruud came by. Ruud then informed the group of players and the staff, after which I also I have spoken with the players group and staff. I have asked Fred to sit on the bench next Sunday, in a difficult time for PSV.”
Brands responds to the reporting of The Telegraph that six players at the management would have expressed their dissatisfaction with Van Nistelrooij. “The players did not complain, but were concerned about saying goodbye to other staff members. They saw tension within the staff. It was not that it was just complaining, that was not the case. The intention of the people around Ruud was absolutely positive. We knew that he is a novice trainer and that he could run into something, but the intention was to solve it together.”
Stewart calls ‘very annoying’ that the conversation between players and management was leaked. “We’re not going to blame anyone, but you’re going to look at what you’re trying to create with each other,” Stewart said. “We want a safe environment for everyone who walks around here at De Herdgang, in which you can discuss things safely. The fact that it has come out is very annoying. That puts some weight on everything.”