Team Focus: Impressive Vitesse Asserting Themselves as Title Challengers

A year is a long time in football. Heading into the 2012/13 winter break PSV were winterkampioen (winter champion), with everything in place to win a 22nd championship (first since 2008), Vitesse were five points behind in fifth. PSV ultimately fell short, as runners-up to Ajax, whereas Vitesse ended in a respectable fourth, their highest finish in more than a decade. Both clubs underwent surgery in the summer, and the consensus was PSV's campaign would be more prosperous but things couldn't have panned out more differently. It's Peter Bosz and not Phillip Cocu that goes into the last round of games in high spirits before the Eredivisie hibernates. 

PSV, lying in ninth, (23 points) endured their worst start to a league season in 42 years, and are closer to bottom side NEC (15) than leaders Vitesse (36). A fortnight ago Bosz's men left the Philips Stadion with a breathless 6-2 victory, a performance that made everyone sit up and take notice.

Bosz isn't getting carried away. "Our players are made of flesh and blood". What can no longer be disputed is Vitesse – nicknamed 'FC Hollywood on the Rhine' – are title contenders; the loss of Marco van Ginkel and Wilfried Bony – both heavily responsible for their strong campaign last season – hasn't greatly impacted. Vitesse give the impression they're a side destined to write a storied tale.

Vitesse's recent growth can be attributed to the involvement of Georgian businessman and ex-footballer Merab Jordania. He arrived in August 2010 with Vitesse floating above the relegation zone – they eventually stayed up on goal-difference – and subsequent appointments of John van den Brom (7th) and Fred Rutten (4th) lifted the club to where they are now. Jordania departed last week, with shares and ownership sold to Russian billionaire Alexander Chigirinsky in October. 

Where there's one oligarch, the shadow of another is not far behind; in this case Roman Abramovich. His friendship with Jordania led to a 'partnership' between their clubs (six Chelsea players are currently on loan at Vitesse) and will only strengthen under Chigirinsky. From a Vitesse perspective it bolsters their squad with individuals who are, in theory at least, destined for stardom. As for Chelsea it gives youth players on the periphery an opportunity to play regular football abroad in a competitive top-flight. 

Jordania's final act was appointing Bosz. Adjusting to new surroundings it took a while before Bosz could implement his ethos. Heracles under him, particularly last season, built a reputation as one of the more enjoyable sides for neutrals to watch, deploying a 3-4-3 that allowed them to "play free-flowing football".

Forward-thinking and proactive, Bosz this season has been less adventurous, sticking to a traditional 4-3-3; what he possesses at Vitesse is more technicians – thus making it easier to control games and takes his swashbuckling approach to new heights. This has resulted in an average possession of 58.4%, only bettered by Ajax (63%) in the Eredivisie; when it comes to shots per game they're first (19.2) ahead of FC Twente (18.8).

With each passing week it looks more certain the eventual champion will emerge from a select group of three. Vitesse and Twente lead the goals chart (40) followed by Ajax (39); however unlike their immediate rivals Vitesse have found the back of the net in every one of their matches – including the solitary strike in early November at the Amsterdam Arena – their total is spread across eleven players, with Lucas Piazón – one of their Chelsea loanees – leading the way. 

Piazón, oft-compared to compatriot and fellow São Paulo FC alumni Ricardo Kakà due to his graceful style, is the highest rated (8.01) Eredivisie player on WhoScored. To say he's made an impact is an understatement. He's become their lynchpin; everything positive they do seems to go through him – eight assists (from 48 chances created) complementing his ten goals – but it's not been a one-man crusade. Davy Pröpper, rejuvenated under Bosz, has chipped in with five goals from midfield; equally important is his transformation into Vitesse's calming presence in the middle of the park alongside the metronomic Marko Vejinović, thus taking over the reins from club icon and cult hero Theo Janssen, sidelined with cruciate ligament damage.

Another stepping up – filling the void left by Bony – is their 6 ft 4 centre-forward Mike Havenaar (5 goals); but most surprising (albeit a pleasant one for Bosz) is the contribution of right-back Kelvin Leerdam with 7 goals. A side laced with finishers and creators from just about every part of the field – left-back Patrick van Aanholt (also Chelsea-loaned), for example, has assisted three goals – tells its own story: players in form, enjoying their football and each other's company.

"No doubt offence sells the tickets, but defence wins championships," as famed basketball coach Dave Thorson once said. Bosz has a moral duty to attack but not at the expense of the defensive side of the game. Vitesse's defence is fourth best (22) in the division behind PEC Zwolle (21), Twente (17) and Ajax (16).The figures are undoubtedly the result of collective effort, though the central defensive pairing of Guram Kashia (7.31 rating) and Jan-Arie van der Heijden (7.36) has played a significant role. 

A classic 'number three-four' tandem: Van der Heijden enjoys nothing more than bringing the ball out of defence and starting attacks. He averages more passes (75.7) than any player in his side, whereas Kashia, club captain, is more strategic – organising the defence with a 'take no prisoners' mentality, the Georgian leads in tackles (48) and interceptions (38). 

Expectations are higher than ever, Kashia and his teammates know the sky's the limit, but remain grounded like their manager. "We have to learn to deal with pressure as a team," Bosz told reporters. As fate would have it Vitesse's final game before the winter break will be at Heracles, so they could be crowned winter champions at Bosz's old stamping ground. As the New Year rings in, supporters donning black-and-yellow can look forward to what 2014 brings, maybe an inaugural championship? "No bridge too far" as they say in Arnhem.

Can Vitesse win the title this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below