Friday, September 10, 2021 at 3:32 PM• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 16:28

Owen Wijndal is the new captain of AZ, it became clear on Friday afternoon. The fully fit left back takes over the captaincy from Teun Koopmeiners, who made the switch to Atalanta in the summer transfer period. Wijndal struggled with a groin injury for some time and last week in the exhibition game with Ajax (2-1 victory), the defender already participated for 45 minutes. Wijndal is fit to play against PSV on Saturday, coach Pascal Jansen assures.

“Due to the departure of a number of basic players, a different dynamic has arisen in the group,” says Jansen in conversation with Football International on the departure of Koopmeiners, Calvin Stengs and Myron Boadu, among others. “Owen has the personality and character to play an important role in this new dynamic. Moreover, there is a sense of responsibility with being a captain and he naturally has that. An additional advantage is that he was trained here at AZ and has developed into an the Dutch squad. international. This also makes him a good example for the youth players here.” Wijndal was already the reserve captain of AZ behind Koopmeiners last season.

Wijndal himself is proud of the fact that he will now wear the captain’s armband at AZ. “You should be proud of that, right?” the left back explains in conversation with ESPN. Wijndal does not want to dwell too long on the appointment and quickly shifts the focus to Saturday’s clash with PSV. “PSV is a good team, we are also a good team. I am curious, I think it will be exciting.”

According to Jansen, after Koopmeiners left for Atalanta, a ‘natural group process’ arose at AZ. “in which other players come to the surface. Time will tell whether there is also a chef like Teun among them. Because Teun and Owen have different characters.” Bruno Martins Indi is this season behind Wijndal as second captain at AZ. Jansen also reveals that the Danish goalkeeper Peter Vindahl will be under the bar at the Alkmaar club on Saturday.

“He has been making a good impression for some time and now he has also settled privately in the Netherlands. We are also looking at that at AZ. In our eyes, he is ready,” said the AZ coach. Hobie Verhulst, who started the season as Jansen’s first choice, will start on the bench on Saturday. The home game against PSV starts at 9 p.m. Jansen expects a tough assignment for his team, but not one that is impossible. “PSV has invested again this summer. But the battle is being fought on the field and not off it.”