Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman is worried that the gap between PSV, Ajax and the rest of the Eredivisie is growing too big.
- Follow Football-Oranje on Twitter
PSV have won twelve league games out of twelve, while Ajax hammered Excelsior 7-1 on Sunday despite having faced Benfica in the Champions League in midweek. After the Ajax victory, Matthijs de Ligt spoke of his concern that the gap between the top two in the Netherlands and the rest of the league is too big.
When asked about De Ligt’s comments, Koeman told his press conference on Monday, “I had not seen that, but I did talk to him about this subject. I can also imagine it. From the Champions League to Woudestein … With all due respect, but then you have to get a lot out of yourself. I think it is also human. The intensity and the opposition is less, but I think Matthijs is one of the few who is very good at it and always prepares as if it were a final. But the circumstances, the field; I can imagine.”
Koeman doesn’t believe it is just down to Ajax and PSV’s opponents becoming weaker, but the top two playing in the Champions League, “It would certainly not be good if it goes like this the whole season. But they develop themselves as individuals and as a team also by playing in the Champions League. Of course, it is also extreme that Ajax can get Tadic out of the Premier League and other clubs can not.”
The KNVB and Koeman are talking about solutions to make the Eredivisie a stronger competition, “It is logical that we talk within the KNVB about how we can get the competition to a higher level, and therefore with more resistance. But it is not all that easy. You also have to deal with rules, while clubs also look at themselves.
“But they (PSV and Ajax) are indeed too good now. “
Artificial grass is a hot topic in the Netherlands at the moment and Koeman admitted he is in favour of abolishing it in the Eredivisie, I do not like artificial grass at all. I’ve always had that opinion. I sat on my couch yesterday afternoon and was obliged to watch two matches on artificial grass in the Netherlands, while on other matches I had a nice green grass cover. That is really football. I am anti-artificial grass. “
Follow
Follow @Footballoranje_ on Twitter
I wonder what the solution could be, better youth development at these clubs in the lower divisions? that is a long term solution.
It all comes down to money. The teams with the big stadium receive more money than the smaller stadium teams. Having more money means you can pay your players more and lessen the risk of the player moving on to another team. Being a rich team also gives that team more opportunity to develop talent or buy talent. Sharing all profits equally with all teams could make for a more balanced league.
In contrast to the ridiculous Super League proposal, a solution may be to have European Central League beginning with the elite teams of Germany, Belgium, Swiss, Austrian, Scandanavian and Dutch Leagues. With one or two divisions that dovetail back into the national divisions; with play offs for promotion and relegation.