Driessen believes Xavi saw only three Oranje candidates in Ajax-PSV

Valentijn Driessen believes new Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernández will have been unimpressed by the level of Ajax and PSV during his first live Eredivisie match since taking the job. Writing in his De Telegraaf column, as relayed by FCUpdate, Driessen suggested the open contest provided entertainment but lacked the quality expected of a major Dutch fixture.

PSV won 3-1 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA after a first half featuring three goals. Ricardo Pepi opened the scoring from Ruben van Bommel’s pass, before Tolu Arokodare equalised for Ajax. Lutsharel Geertruida restored PSV’s lead with a volley in added time, and Esmir Bajraktarevic completed the scoring late in the second half. The match also featured a confrontation between the teams with around ten minutes remaining.

Driessen speculated that Xavi may have identified no more than three potential members of his first Oranje squad: Van Bommel, Geertruida and Guus Til, all of PSV. The columnist acknowledged that none of the trio produced their best performance, but noted that they were involved in the champions’ goals.

Xavi is due to begin his tenure against Germany in the Nations League on 24 September. The Netherlands then face Serbia away on 27 September, Greece away on 1 October and Serbia at home on 4 October. His selection following the Ajax-PSV match has not yet been announced, meaning Driessen’s assessment remains opinion rather than confirmed insight into the coach’s thinking.