Fortuna Sittard manager Danny Buijs warned that the heavy demands of European competition will ultimately decide this season’s Eredivisie title race, identifying small squad depth as the critical dividing line between Feyenoord, PSV, and Ajax.
Speaking after his side secured a 1-1 draw against Feyenoord at De Kuip, Buijs pointed to the grueling midweek calendar as the ultimate hurdle for the Dutch traditional powers. “That could well be the decisive factor,” Buijs stated, noting that clubs routinely drop domestic points after playing continental fixtures abroad.
The result in Rotterdam marked the third time in four seasons that Fortuna Sittard left De Kuip undefeated under Buijs’s guidance. Despite holding Feyenoord to a stalemate, the Fortuna coach argued that PSV holds a distinct structural advantage in the championship chase due to superior squad depth across the entire roster.
Title Contenders Remain Locked in Tight Race
Buijs views the Dutch top flight as a tightly contested three-way battle between Feyenoord, PSV, and Ajax that will stretch deep into the spring campaign. Outlining the landscape from his team’s experiences against the division’s heavyweights, the coach noted narrow margins at the top of the table.
Fortuna’s path through the early league schedule included a 1-5 home defeat against Ajax in the closing stages, alongside a 2-2 draw against PSV on opening weekend. Buijs emphasized that the initial meeting with PSV benefited from a seven-week preparation window, contrasting it with the rapid turnaround required for their recent visit to Rotterdam.
While acknowledging Feyenoord’s resilience, Buijs maintained that PSV possesses greater overall resources over a grueling 34-match season. “Over the course of a full season, Feyenoord, PSV, and Ajax feel further ahead and stronger than the other clubs,” Buijs said.
Tactical Blueprint Neutralizes Feyenoord Winger
Fortuna executed a precise defensive game plan in Rotterdam to neutralize Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj Moussa. Buijs instructed his players to double up on the 24-year-old attacker and apply aggressive pressure outside the eighteen-yard box.
The defensive approach succeeded for long stretches of the fixture. “Double up. That is what you have to do. And defend very aggressively against him outside the penalty area,” Buijs explained. “Once he is in that area, you can no longer do anything.”
The visiting side nearly snatched an improbable victory in the dying minutes when Sven Simons found space for a late chance, but Feyenoord goalkeeper Tjark Ernst preserved the 1-1 scoreline with a crucial save.
Minimal Preparation Precedes De Kuip Stalemate
Fortuna’s tactical execution in Rotterdam came on the back of minimal training ground work. Following a domestic cup fixture against Sparta Rotterdam earlier in the week, the squad spent just twenty minutes on the training pitch working on tactical preparations for the Feyenoord encounter.
The result leaves Feyenoord searching for consistency at home after dropping further points in Rotterdam. Meanwhile, Fortuna continues to collect notable away results against the division’s leading clubs, having taken points off both PSV and Feyenoord during the opening months of the season.
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