Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 8:15 AM• Last update: 08:23

Erik ten Hag and Marc Overmars are unanimous about the importance of Sébastien Haller for Ajax. The trainer of the Amsterdammers mentions the striker in an interview with Football International the missing link, while Overmars are coming opposite The Telegraph labeled as ‘crucial’. Haller was taken over from West Ham United for 22.5 million euros in January, but has also been regularly criticized in recent weeks.

“That was very important, because we started playing football more easily with him”, says Ten Hag about Haller’s coming to Ajax. The trainer knows the ‘critical noises’. “But Ajax is always criticized and Ajax’s striker is always critical. He was one anyway missing link. With Haller we have an extra point of contact for the long ball, we have body in the sixteen. In printing you have someone who masters that. In any case, he masters many facets and has returns. Eleven goals and seven assists is also a good score. ”

“His arrival has been crucial for the league title. With his goals, winning hits, assists and his presence as a person, we had a super start. A small lead over PSV became a big one in January. The best of Haller is yet to come. He can do better and will get better, ”says Overmars. Ajax’s director of football affairs emphasizes that it was actually his intention to renew with Brian Brobbey, who will leave for RB Leipzig at the end of the season.

Overmars says it took two years to bind Brobbey to Ajax for longer, because a potential first striker was seen in him. “Initially, the condition did not end, Erik ten Hag started working with him and picked it up. Actually, that was the ideal picture. Still, we were forced to get Sébastien Haller in the winter as a precaution. The striker position was too thin to complete the season. And we didn’t want to be put against the wall in the player market for the new season. We couldn’t wait any longer. ”