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This is how Fred Rutten responds to “the game” Advocaat & Co: “A snake pit”
RJAMay 12, 2026
Criticism

This is how Fred Rutten responds to “the game” Advocaat & Co: “A snake pit”

1 min read

Extremely chic and extremely neat, Fred Rutten fields questions from various media after he has taken a step back as head coach of Curaçao. Fred Rutten, to the very core. How different does Dick Advocaat approach it?

Fast to sum up: a lot of criticism for Advocaat and plenty of praise for the classy Fred Rutten. Those are the quick conclusions. The coach took over in February at Curaçao, after Dick Advocaat stepped down due to his daughter's health. That situation is now stable, and at Curaçao they wanted just one thing. And that has meanwhile happened.

The players of Curaçao have said goodbye to Rutten again. A return of Advocaat is not going to happen, so the association chairman Gilbert Martina confirmed earlier this week, but something else has happened. "I'm not a fan of Fred Rutten, but I want to take his side", it sounds at De Oosttribune from Twente, where Rutten still enjoys great popularity.

"A grown man of 63, who needs to hold himself to account. I would have stopped it long ago. The little game that is being played now, especially by SBS6, Vandaag Inside. It’s really becoming embarrassing. I listened to the episode and thought: Am I hearing this right? Really an embarrassing tribute to Advocaat, who suddenly has to be pushed forward", says Van Wissing in De Oosttribune.

"If I were Rutten... And then you see a story in De Telegraaf, where apparently Advocaat wants to. That then puts SBS6 on so that Fred Rutten can still be given a kick... I find this so transparent", Van Wissing is critical. "I'm not an ambassador for Fred Rutten, but I'd say: Just stick it all in."

'This decision was made following open and constructive talks between Fred Rutten and the chairman of FFK, with the importance of Curaçaoan football, the players' group, and the necessary calm around the national team consistently at the center,' the statement says.

Rutten himself also responds to the fact that he decided to take a step back. "There should be no climate that undermines healthy professional relationships, both within the players' group and among the staff. That is why it is advisable to step down. In addition, time is pressing and Curaçao must move forward. I regret what has happened, but I also wish everyone great success", he lets them know.

From the Curaçaoan board comes praise for the way Rutten did it as temporary successor to Advocaat, but also for the way he clears the path again. Well, Fred Rutten is, after all, considered an extremely classy man. You can also clearly see something of the proceedings around Advocaat and Rutten at Vandaag Inside, as shown in the video below.

Comments20

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Jess12 May, 21:34

Neutral take, but I thought the tactical bit about the late-game management was spot on. PSV don't just sit back, they compress the middle and make the last pass risky, especially at home.

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Liam12 May, 21:25

Neutral take: the article is spot on about PSV being more aggressive this season. I just worry that if we concede early, our game plan becomes too predictable.

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Holly12 May, 19:49

Honestly, the best bit for me was how the article tied the pressing triggers to PSV's chances. It's not just vibes, it's structure.

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Jake12 May, 19:12

The tactical read was good, but I want to know why the second half slowed down. PSV have the quality, so those pauses in tempo always worry me.

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Liam12 May, 19:08

I'm torn. The tactics sound smart, but PSV also need to be ruthless in front of goal. One more clean finish and this turns into a completely different season story.

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Emma12 May, 18:41

Gotta disagree slightly. The back line looked shaky in moments, and I'm not fully convinced the fullbacks offer enough protection when the other team counters.

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Liam12 May, 18:33

Pretty interesting read. The coaching tweaks sound promising, especially the balance between pressing and keeping shape. If we execute it, PSV could look really dangerous.

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Tom12 May, 17:54

Luuk is always one of the first names I look for, but I liked that they highlighted the bigger picture around his movement. The team looked better when he dragged defenders and left space for the runners.

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Jess12 May, 17:52

That quote about standards being non-negotiable sounds exactly right. PSV should be ruthless in those 10-minute stretches, especially at home.

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Tom12 May, 17:45

The mention of Tillman and the way he finds space was spot on. When he receives between the lines, PSV actually looks like they can control the game instead of just chasing it.

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Jess12 May, 17:44

Honestly, I want to see more consistency in the lineup week to week. The approach is great, but PSV still need that little edge to turn good spells into full 90-minute control.

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Tom12 May, 17:41

I'm not fully sold on the "easier to break teams" claim. When we face a low block, we need patience and better decisions in the final third.

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Mike12 May, 17:39

I'm not fully convinced by the midfield setup though. If the article is right that they rely on rotations to create the overload, it only works when both fullbacks stay brave on the ball.

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Sarah12 May, 17:36

The bit about the fullbacks pushing higher is exciting. Sometimes it feels like we attack with numbers but then lose shape too fast. Hopefully that fixed it.

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Jess12 May, 17:30

The focus on specific player roles is spot on. If the wide player tucks in like described, it gives the fullback so much more confidence to overlap.

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Sarah12 May, 16:36

I like the idea of the wide buildup, but sometimes it feels like we overcook it before the final ball. Would be nice to see more early shots and less passing around the box.

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Tom12 May, 16:31

Be honest, though, the defense looked a bit shaky when teams countered. If they fix that spacing in transition, PSV can go from good to scary.

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Mike12 May, 16:13

If PSV really trust the rotation up front like the article says, I actually like it. But I want to see us control the tempo in midfield, not just chase second balls all night.

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Tom12 May, 16:07

Calling out the intensity around the box is spot on. When our wingers drive inside and the midfield arrives late, it creates problems for pretty much everyone.

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Sarah12 May, 16:04

I get the optimism, but I still worry about the defensive transitions. The article mentions the attacking shape, but PSV have to sharpen up when we lose the ball.