The season starts, and the defence does not look ready
PSV kick off the 2026 campaign Sunday evening against AZ in the Johan Cruijff Schaal (2). A trophy is on the line. But the real story is what happens at the back, because Peter Bosz has spent the entire week sounding alarms about his defence, and he is right to.
The 3–1 defeat to Villarreal was not a routine preseason slip. "Villarreal had er tien kunnen maken," Bosz said, and he was not exaggerating for effect (22). The back line gave up chances at a rate that would sink any Eredivisie side, let alone a Champions League contender. Bosz called it "extreem" and demanded better before AZ (24). When a manager renowned for attacking football makes defensive fragility his lead talking point, you listen.
Geertruida, Kostic, and a window that needs to deliver
The transfer work tells you the club agrees with Bosz. PSV are chasing three names: Lutsharel Geertruida from RB Leipzig, Filip Kostic from Juventus, and NEC midfielder Kodai Sano (21). Geertruida is the headline target at €18 million, but Feyenoord are also in the race and the deal is proving complex (4) (19). Kostic has a PSV proposal on the table, with AEK Athens watching closely (29) (30).
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Fans have spent the week decoding Flightradar screenshots and a quickly deleted Instagram post from Geertruida (11) (12). The hunger for a signing is real. But the Johan Cruijff Schaal kicks off in a few hours, and the only new face in the squad is Sven Mijnans, who starts against his former club AZ (1). One signing, several gaps, and a defence that conceded at will against Villarreal. That is not where a three-time champion wants to be in August.
Saibari missing, Pléa a question, Boadu gone
Record signing Ismael Saibari has not kicked a ball this preseason. A hamstring injury suffered on Bayern Munich's Asia tour wiped out his entire preparation (8). For the club's biggest-ever investment, that is a rotten start. Alassane Pléa is another open wound. A serious injury a year ago has left serious doubts about whether he returns to his old level (10). Myron Boadu will not get the chance to find his form in Eindhoven: PSV decided definitively this week not to continue with him (23).
Mijnans gets the spotlight against AZ, but the squad depth behind him is thinner than it should be. Schouten remains out long-term with a cruciate ligament injury. That midfield gap next to Joey Veerman has not been filled.
What to watch
The Johan Cruijff Schaal is not just a curtain-raiser, it is a stress test. AZ coach Leeroy Echteld has already said he knows people inside PSV and will get his information (14). That is a manager who smells vulnerability. After Sunday, the Eredivisie starts next Saturday against Fortuna Sittard. If Geertruida and Kostic are not in the building by then, Bosz will be asking questions he should not have to ask in week two of the season.
