Peter Bosz has ruled out a first start for Lutsharel Geertruida against FC Groningen, even though the new PSV defender was already in the match squad two days after being presented in Eindhoven on Friday. Bosz said the Dutch international is physically and conditionally in excellent shape, but still needs time to learn the team’s way of playing and the details of his new teammates.
That makes Geertruida one of the quickest additions to PSV’s squad this season, but not yet a starter. The timing matters because the club are already reshaping their midfield after Joey Veerman’s departure, and Bosz has now chosen Guus Til, Noah Fernandez and Kodai Sano as the three players to try to solve that puzzle. PSV look to build on their first win with a home test against FC Groningen, and Bosz made clear that this selection is about fit, not fitness.
His view is simple: Geertruida can join in immediately on condition and physique, but the football side still has to settle. Bosz said PSV should not waste time on people criticising the move because of the player’s Feyenoord past, but he also made clear that the adaptation is still under way. He said it could take time, though it might also go quickly, which is why the defender is in the group without yet being asked to start.
The friction is obvious. Geertruida has arrived ready to play, and PSV have already moved fast enough to put him in the squad, but Bosz is still drawing a line between being available and being ready to lead from the first whistle. That is also why the midfield reshuffle matters now: with Veerman gone, PSV are not just replacing a player, they are trying to find a combination that works together straight away. The choice of Til, Fernandez and Sano shows Bosz is searching for chemistry first and reputation second.
For Geertruida, the next step is not in question, only the timing of it. Bosz has already said the adjustment can be quick, and that means his first PSV start may follow soon if he absorbs the system and the people around him. Until then, the club’s answer is to use him in the squad, trust his condition, and wait for the football to catch up.
