Mislintat receives support about purchases from Ajax: ‘There really is talent there’
Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 9:40 AM
Gertjan Verbeek believes that Ajax’s selection is not that bad at all, he says in an extensive interview with De Telegraaf. Journalist Jeroen Kapteijns spoke to the club-less coach in the context of Ajax’s match against FC Utrecht, which can be seen as a relegation killer due to the position in the Eredivisie. Verbeek knows what it is like to play relegation football with a big club, as he experienced it with FC Twente in the 2017/18 season.
Verbeek has to deal with Utrecht coach Ron Jans. The former trainer of Feyenoord, among others, states that it is difficult to join somewhere in the meantime. “That is the most difficult thing there is. As a trainer you come up against so many things. Ron went into it with full understanding. He was going to take a sabbatical and will now sometimes scratch his head, because this is not a fun period. ”
The expert mentions an important factor why this is a difficult situation for both Utrecht and Ajax. “These are often players who have been part of a team that played for prizes. Players are generally not very self-critical, so someone else is quickly pointed to. This creates division. With teams in crisis you have all kinds of islands. “They are individuals and not a whole,” says Verbeek.
Ajax purchasing policy
During the interview, Verbeek also zooms in on the purchases of the now dismissed director of football affairs Sven Mislintat. “You can blame Mislintat for a lot, but you can’t tell me that all those players can’t do anything. There really is talent among them. Mikautadze just scores five goals for the national team. In the situation at Ajax, I take the core of Dutch players with experience as a starting point and fit some newcomers with quality around it.”
Due to the tension at both clubs, Verbeek is looking forward to the match in Galgenwaard Stadium, although he hopes that things will not get out of hand in Utrecht. “I’m worried, also for the public. I think the mayor and police are extra alert. It is an extremely charged match. The loser has a huge problem. His courage completely sinks.”
In any case, the Dutch record champion will not have Gerónimo Rulli (shoulder injury), Sivert Mannsverk (foot injury) and Ahmetcan Kaplan (knee injury) at his disposal in Utrecht. Silvano Vos is missing due to a suspension. In addition, Ajax has four doubtful cases. It is uncertain whether Steven Berghuis, Branco van den Boomen, Benjamin Tahirovic and Devyne Rensch will travel to the cathedral city.
Jans also has to miss a number of players at Utrecht. Former Ajax player Nick Viergever is serving a two-match suspension. The bottom of the Eredivisie also cannot call on the injured Zidane Iqbal and Hidde ter Avest. The match between Utrecht and Ajax starts on Sunday at 12:15 p.m.
Presumed FC Utrecht line-up: Barkas; Van der Maarel, Van der Hoorn, Saignan, El Karouani; Bozdogan, Toornstra, Fraulo; Boussaid, Seuntjens, Labyad.
Possible line-up Ajax: Gorter; Rensch, Sutalo, Ávila, Hato; Tahirovic, Berghuis, Taylor; Forbs, Brobbey, Bergwijn.
2023-10-21 09:15:00
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