PSV Eindhoven 2023/24: Three precious players for their superb start and their respective squad roles – tactical analysis

Since the appointment of former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund manager Peter Bosz in the summer after the departure of Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy as head coach, PSV Eindhoven have been absolutely flying domestically to start the new Eredivisie season. Ten matches into the campaign, they have won every single match, sitting on 30 points with both the best attack and defence in the Dutch top flight. 

Instead of looking at the 59-year-old Dutchmans tactics, this piece will still highlight three players who have become vital cogs in the engine of this PSV side, using both statistics and examples to illustrate what they have been able to contribute to this high-flying Eindhoven side. This tactical analysis will be like a scout report in some regards, talking slightly in detail about what each of these players has brought and how they have fit into the style of play that Peter Bosz has looked to implement at PSV Eindhoven. 

Luuk de Jong, ST, 33-years old 

Without a doubt, the player that has made the biggest impact since Peter Boszs appointment in the summer has been 33-year-old Dutch striker Luuk de Jong. The striker rejoined the club from Spanish side Sevilla in the summer of 2022, but this season is where he really has begun to make his mark back in Eindhoven. 

His eight goals scored this season is the third-highest in the Eredivisie, while his five assists is the joint-most in the division. He has also taken the most shots of any other player in the Eredivisie this season, while he also has the most touches in the penalty area of any other player. All in all, de Jong has become a penalty box poacher for Boszs side, and his leadership has also been huge, with the Dutch striker being the club captain. 

The pizza plot above shows where de Jong has excelled and been slightly below average this season for PSV in the Eredivisie compared to other players in his position. As we can see from the graphic, from an attacking perspective, the 33-year-old striker has been absolutely lethal in front of goal. Outside of dribbles per 90, de Jong essentially has been one of the best strikers in the Dutch top flight from a pure goalscoring and attacking perspective. 

When looking at the possession statistics, de Jong also ranks highly in a majority of these categories as well. Linking with his presence inside the penalty box, de Jong ranks as one of the best strikers in the Eredivisie in regards to received passes per 90 minutes, while his ability on the ball and distribution is also well above average this season, as illustrated by his rankings in the other metrics and his five assists on the season.