Jong PSV coach Stijn Schaars has addressed the unrest caused by the transfer deadline within his squad. His team drew 2-2 against RKC Waalwijk on Friday despite the absence of Jordy Bawuah and Joël van den Berg, as reported by the Eindhovens Dagblad.
Bawuah is set to depart for FC Twente, while there is concrete interest in Van den Berg from Celtic. Schaars indicated these developments were not entirely unexpected. "There has been quite a lot going on around our players for a while," the coach said. He stressed his players are handling it well. The absence of the two talents was noticeable on the pitch, but the team fought back from a 2-0 deficit to secure a draw.
Why were Bawuah and Van den Berg missing?
The decision to leave Bawuah and Van den Berg out of the squad for the match in Waalwijk was a practical one. Schaars explained that with so much happening around these players, it was better to leave them out. "Everyone knows this is the week before the transfer deadline and things can still change," the trainer stated. Internally, PSV regularly holds discussions about the future of youth players: retain, promote, loan, or sell. These choices are part of the club's development function.
Interest in players from the PSV academy has noticeably increased over the past year, according to Schaars. This requires sharp decision-making, something the technical staff has been aware of since the start of this season. The current situation surrounding Bawuah and Van den Berg is a direct result of that growing attention. Fans can always follow the squad composition on our squad page.
How did the team respond on the pitch?
Jong PSV had a difficult first half against RKC and trailed 2-0. After the break, the team fought back to earn a draw. Schaars was proud of that reaction. "Our players need a bit more support and structure than experienced pros," he analyzed. "When these kinds of things are happening, they can't fully anticipate yet. Still, I'm super proud of the team."
The absence of two key players like Bawuah and Van den Berg, who are at the top of the group in terms of standards, toughness, and dueling power, was clearly felt. Others had to step up, which takes time. The performance under these circumstances was a strong team effort. The upcoming matches for Jong PSV can be found on our fixtures overview.
What does this mean for the PSV academy?
The developments confirm the strong market position of the PSV youth academy. Promoting or selling talent is a core task. Schaars said, "We train with the intention of bringing players to a higher level." The increasing demand for Eindhoven talents is a sign of quality. It does require a careful balance between short-term success for Jong PSV and the long-term development of individual players and the club's finances.
This dynamic will only increase in the coming years. The success of previous graduates has put the academy in the spotlight. For statistics on academy players and their progression, you can consult our stats page. Jong PSV is currently in the middle of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie table. Their next league match is in two weeks, away against FC Dordrecht.
