Rafael van der Vaart has joined the discussion about the number 10 position at Ajax. The former Ajax player would prefer Steven Berghuis against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, but does note that it is a ‘personal choice’. Trainer Erik ten Hag will have to choose between Davy Klaassen and Berghuis against Dortmund, as Antony is expected to take his original position at the front right.
Van der Vaart is quite firm in his choice for Berghuis. “I would always choose Berghuis, but that is a choice because he is a football player like I was,” the analyst said. Ziggo Sports. “And that is absolutely not fair, because Klaassen has also done a fantastic job. I think it is a bit stupid of Ajax. Antony has stayed, David Neres is still there, Berghuis always plays from the right and Klaassen did well. Now you have a problem. They call it a luxury problem, but it seems to me a terrible choice.”
‘I would always choose Berghuis. They call it a luxury choice, but as a trainer it seems a terrible choice to me.’ ??@WytsevdGoot & @RafvdVaart from an (still) empty Johan Cruijff ArenA! ?? Who would you start with, Klaassen or Berghuis? ??#ZiggoSport #UCL #AJABVB pic.twitter.com/GFBx7Avf9L
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) October 19, 2021
The fact that Berghuis is preferred by Van der Vaart is mainly due to his creativity. “Klaassen takes care of the balance, but I think Berghuis creates more. I hope that will also happen tonight, but that is what the enthusiast in me says. In terms of passes and crosses, I think Berghuis is the most creative player at Ajax. “It’s weird to say you wouldn’t let the most creative player play. It’s also that Edson Álvarez, who I’m not a fan of, is doing great. Otherwise you would have brought Klaassen back and they could have played both.”
Youri Mulder does agree with everything Rafael said, but still thinks that Ten Hag will choose Klaassen. Klaassen can do better when reading the defensive aspect, switching over. Erik ten Hag often opts for the creative, but against a German team, in which the game goes up and down, you sometimes have to switch and bridge meters. That fits better at Klaassen, so I think he will play,” says Mulder, who is also pleased with Berghuis. “Berghuis is the most creative player in Ajax’s selection. I also think that he has grown. His transition to Ajax has gone very well. He has filled in the number 10 position, a new position for him, fantastic. to the sides and also provides assists, Klaassen does that less. But Berghuis is less along with his opponents.”
Finally, Van der Vaart comments on Remko Pasveer, who so far has not made a strong impression at Ajax. “What is age?”, Van der Vaart wonders aloud. “Onana is absolute top. You cannot say that Pasveer has done very badly. Of course he must have that ball against Sporting Portugal, but I have faith in him. I do think that Jay Gorter will get the chance one day, it seems.” to be a great talent. But I would let Onana play later. You want to achieve something and he is there until the end of the season.”