More and more details are coming out about the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooij and the associated unrest within PSV. On Wednesday morning, the clubman announced that he would leave immediately as head coach of the Eindhoven team. This was due to a lack of support. A day earlier, Van Nistelrooij had had a good conversation in the boardroom in the eyes of Earnest Stewart and Marcel Brands.
Van Nistelrooij’s announcement therefore came as a bolt from the blue to Brands and Stewart, as the two board members did not have the feeling for a moment after Tuesday’s meeting that this was about to happen. The internal unrest would be lifted over the duel with AZ, and then continue together in good harmony after a solid evaluation. Football International writes, however, that Van Nistelrooij’s mood had already been ruined.
“Sources say that Van Nistelrooij himself was not at all as positive after the discussions as his directors. In the end, it became a sum for Van Nistelrooij”, writes club watcher Marco Timmer in an extensive analysis. “Somewhere at home, the conversations with Stewart and Brands and everything that happened must have sunk in with the former top striker.” Stewart said on Wednesday during the specially inserted press conference that he received the announcement at 9.40 am and that Van Nistelrooij would inform the players at 9.45 am.
The fact that Stewart and Van Nistelrooij were not on the same page is apparent from Timmer’s analysis. For example, there was a difference of opinion about the future of Joey Veerman. The midfielder was placed on the bench a few times this season by his trainer, but grew into one of the stars in the final phase of the season. Despite the fact that other staff members such as Fred Rutten and André Ooijer disagreed with the fact that Van Nistelrooij placed Veerman on the bench, the head coach held on.
Veerman was also one of the topics of conversation with a view to next season. “With a good offer for Veerman, Van Nistelrooij had no problem if the Volendammer, who also determines the atmosphere in the dressing room, would leave – while the club management wanted to build a team around him and Xavi Simons,” Timmer writes. Veerman was one of the group of players who spoke to Stewart and Brands about Van Nistelrooij’s performance and his future. It was also stated that Simons was present, but that is incorrect.