No loss is too great for PSV

Pole position
Sunday's hard-fought 1-0 win against AFC Ajax took PSV top of the Eredivisie for the first time this season - no small achievement considering the number of talented players who left for pastures new in the close season. No fewer than five of the team that started last season's UEFA Champions League semi-final against AC Milan have since departed.

Gutted squad
Johann Vogel joined their Italian opponents, while captain Mark van Bommel linked up with FC Barcelona. But the English Premiership proved the most alluring, with Ji-Sung Park signing for Manchester United FC, Wilfred Bouma trying his luck at Aston Villa FC and Young-Pyo Lee moving to Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Huge challenge
"Replacing midfielders is much harder than replacing attackers," Hiddink told uefa.com. "But that makes the challenge even bigger." And so it proved as PSV started the campaign with a loss to Ajax in the Dutch Super Cup and a 1-1 Eredivisie draw with Heracles Almelo.

Arduous week
Early results in the UEFA Champions League gave mixed signals as PSV won 1-0 against FC Schalke 04 before going down 3-0 at Fenerbahçe SK. However, the big test came between 15 and 23 October when they played Dutch high-fliers AZ Alkmaar, Milan and Ajax.

Flying colours
It was an examination Hiddink's men passed with flying colours, prevailing 3-0 against AZ, holding Milan to a goalless draw and beating Ajax to complete a fine week's work. And while some of their domestic success can be attributed to lean times for traditional rivals Feyenoord and Ajax, PSV's achievement remains impressive.

Defensive anchor
Defensive strength is key to the new-look side with central duo André Ooijer and Alex being assisted by Michael Lamey and experienced signing Michael Reiziger, while in front of the back four, Belgian international Timmy Simons - a summer recruit from Club Brugge KV - gives added protection.

Key attackers
Up front, the speedy Ibrahim Afellay and Jefferson Farfán have shown they can be a threat, while in the Eredivisie, new boy Jason Culina - one of Hiddink's protégés in the Australian national team - and Ivorian Arouna Koné have been sensational in attacking positions.

Able subaltern
However, the most valuable player of all may be 34-year-old captain Phillip Cocu, Hiddink's lieutenant on the pitch, who has been helping the newcomers adjust to life at PSV. Still imperious in midfield, Hiddink has made no secret of his desire to extend the 93-times Dutch international's contract.

Winning formula
"It would be great if Phillip wanted to extend his contract, as he has had a big influence on the younger players, helping them develop faster then normal," said Hiddink. With coach and captain working in perfect harmony, PSV seem to have found the winning formula again.