Arne Slot paid tribute to Ruud van Nistelrooy by claiming that Leicester’s new manager had laid the foundations of PSV Eindhoven the team that submitted its Feyenoord team as Dutch champions.
The two Dutch we will see each other the day after Christmas with league leaders Liverpool accommodation Leicester.
They faced each other in the 2022-23 season when Van Nistelrooy had the upper hand in matches – winning 4-3 in Eindhoven and drawing 2-2 in Rotterdam – but Slot won the match. Eredivisie title, with Feyenoord finishes seven points ahead from PSV, second.
And Slot smiled: “I expected you to tell people here that I lost once and I drew once!” But you made it positive by saying we won the league title, which was true.
“Cody Gakpo was in his team, but I’m happy that he is in my team when we play Ruud because Cody scored (in PSV’s 4-3 win).”
Van Nistelrooy resigned in 2023 and PSV won the Dutch league under his successor Peter Bosz, but Slot believes the former Manchester United striker deserves his share of the credit, for his form during his final months under its management, as they have only lost once, raising money by selling key players and beginning rebuilding work.
He explained: “Ruud is above all a very kind person. I met him once or twice. I think he did really well when he was at PSV because I think for a year and a half PSV were at the top of the table, but if you look at the second half of Ruud’s season I think he I haven’t lost any more matches at all.
“It was no surprise that after we left they bought so many players because PSV started buying a few more players than when he started working there. When he was there -low, Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke were sold.
“But he still showed he can compete for the title. A nice person, a good manager, who also did well at Man United. I can’t wait to see it, especially if we win.
