Rafael van der Vaart, in anticipation of the crucial match between PSV and Ajax, expresses his surprise at the current use of some expensive players in the two Dutch clubs. He points out that significant investments, such as those made by Ajax on Oskar Gloukh and Raúl Moro, or by PSV on Paul Wanner and Dennis Man, do not result in regular place in the base teams. Van der Vaart said he was disconcerted by this situation, as he felt that a player recruited at a high cost should logically get an opportunity to start the first matches and that the lack of confidence could be detrimental to their development.

The analyst highlights a workforce management problem at Ajax, illustrated by the case of players such as Wout Weghorst, whose lack of tenure after a good match could discourage others. He criticizes the idea of acquiring expensive players and then relegating them to the bench, arguing that this creates an absurd situation and undermines the motivation of newcomers. Van der Vaart stresses the importance of giving new players the confidence they need to thrive and show their worth.

Peter Bosz, a PSV coach, tries to justify the lack of play by some players by evoking injuries, periods of adaptation to a new environment, and the time it takes them to fully integrate into the team. He cites examples such as Ivan Perisic and Tillman, who also needed time to adapt. However, Van der Vaart contests this approach, saying that new players must be given the opportunity to prove their value and that a period of adaptation should not result in a lack of playing time.