Turmoil in Eindhoven: PSV Coach Stevens Under Heavy Pressure

PSV Eindhoven’s recent form is about as flat as a Dutch pancake. And it’s manifesting itself in the standings as PSV currently sit in 5th spot in the Eredivisie 15 points behind league leaders AZ Alkmaar. As a consequence, coach Huub Stevens is not feeling the love.

According to insiders, the players are having a hard time with Stevens’ emotional outbursts on the sidelines during matches. Moreover, what’s worse, his players are dissatisfied with the tactics Stevens employs. Stevens refuses to listen to the pleas of his players to utilise a more attacking style with two strikers in the place of one.

Players are frustrated by what they perceive to be cowardly tactics and are of the opinion the team is not realizing its full potential. Stevens’ player personel moves have contributed to the friction. For example, last Saturday Stevens benched Danko Lazovic, Danny Koevermans and Nordin Amrabat in favour of new player Ola Toivonen.

For months the team has pleaded with their coach for a more attacking style and in their view the coach has ignored their advice.

Tension finally errupted like a well-shaken Heineken last Saturday when PSV played NAC Breda. During the intermission a small riot started among the players and staff. Goalie coach Hans Segers and Hungarian midfielder Balazs Dzsudzsak were seperated just in time by teammates and staff.

Behind the scenes there’s support for the players. Sources tell that General Manager Jan Reker is supporting the players and has during meetings voted against the conservative style of play. That’s what we call in the business, a stab in the back!

E tu brute?

Needless to say, Stevens’ position as coach is tenuous at best. Reker is not convinced if he fires his things will improve.

So, for now he will keep the knives in the drawer and holf on to Huub Stevens.