AZ can use Jens Odgaard in the first semi-final of the Conference League against West Ham United on Thursday. The 24-year-old Dane is struggling with a toe injury, but can still play with an adapted shoe.
Odgaard dropped out against Ajax shortly before the break last Saturday. He was still suffering from the toe injury he sustained two weeks earlier during the meeting with RKC Waalwijk.
“He has been to the orthopedist”, said trainer Pascal Jansen at a press conference in London the day before the game. “That shoe was not finished against Ajax and he felt that. That is why he had to leave the field. Now that the shoe is finished, he can just play.”
Odgaard’s participation is a stroke of luck for Jansen, who misses his entire left flank against West Ham. Left back Milos Kerkez is suspended and Jesper Karlsson is still injured. “We are stronger with those players, but I have every confidence in the guys who will do it tomorrow,” said Jansen.
Jansen back on native soil
For fifty-year-old Jansen, staying in London means a return to his hometown. His parents are British singer Sue Chaloner and Dutch keyboardist Hans Jansen. “It immediately feels very familiar when you put your feet on English soil.”
Jansen already arrived in London last weekend to attend West Ham’s match against Manchester United (1-0). “I am very happy to have seen that game. I have followed them since the draw and noticed that they can play differently per game. Now I have an all-round view of what they are capable of.”
“They have a lot of power. That is not surprising at the level of the Premier League. We have to rely on our positional play, although we should not think that we can stay away from the duels for ninety minutes. that is necessary.”
He did not say what result Jansen is satisfied with on Thursday. “Of course we do not have a chance. We will not have to play naively, but we will have to rely on our own strength.”
The first game between West Ham United and AZ in the semi-finals of the Conference League starts on Thursday at 9 p.m. The return is a week later in Alkmaar.
2023-05-10 17:41:52
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