“PSV Coach Rutten Comments on Van Nistelrooij’s Departure and Last Eredivisie Match”

“I understand very well that there are a lot of questions, but I hope for understanding that I cannot go into that in depth,” said Rutten, who will take over Van Nistelrooij’s duties for the last Eredivisie match of the season.

Tensions had arisen within the PSV technical staff in recent weeks and Rutten and his fellow assistant André Ooijer had already announced that they would leave after this season. Rutten nevertheless called the collaboration with Van Nistelrooij “good”. When asked when there was a hitch in the cable, he did not respond.

“That is irrelevant now, because we have to perform against AZ on Sunday. I want to keep my focus on that. I know the mechanisms. If I answer it now, then that is the theme. And I don’t think the theme is Fred Rutten. The theme is how we will conquer AZ on Sunday,” said Rutten, who indicated that he sympathized with Van Nistelrooij.

“I have not spoken to him, but via the app. I have also been in that situation. I know how you feel as a person. And I also know that you have little need to speak to everyone.”

PSV needs one point in the away match against AZ on Sunday to be assured of second place and the preliminary rounds of the Champions League. In the event of a defeat by the team from Eindhoven, Ajax can still pass PSV if it beats FC Twente on Sunday.

Van Nistelrooij first informed technical director Earnest Stewart about his departure on Wednesday morning and immediately afterwards the players and staff. Rutten, like the PSV leadership, was completely surprised. “It came in like a bomb, I didn’t see it coming at all. If I had felt it, I would have tried to convince him not to.”

The interim coach has had many conversations with the group of players since Wednesday. He has not noticed any discord within the selection.

“There was a lot of disappointment, it’s not just anything. The selection consists of adult players, but also many young players who are experiencing this for the first time. They need an arm around them.”

The 60-year-old coach suspects that he will be on the bench for the last time on behalf of PSV on Sunday. “Everything is possible in football, but I assume that this will be my last game as PSV coach.”