‘I feel sorry for the people who have to decide it’

Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 11:44 PM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 23:47

Daley Blind has been chosen by UEFA as man of the match after the match between Ajax and Borussia Dortmund (4-0). The left back, who scored the second goal in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, says to RTL7 laughing that he ‘pitys’ the people who had to make the choice. There were many individuals at Ajax who played an excellent match, Blind emphasizes.

Halfway through the first half, Ajax expanded the margin to 2-0. Blind took over the ball in the axis of the field, about 25 meters from the goal, combined with Sébastien Haller, got the ball back and hit the inside of the post just outside the penalty area. His goal undoubtedly played a role in the UEFA’s choice, but according to Blind was not the only reason. “Obviously it’s not that easy. I think I played a good game, but I wasn’t the only one. I think we played really well as a team and a lot of individuals were really good. I think it was a tough one. choice was for the people who had to decide.”

“I thought Remko (Pasveer, ed.) was fantastic with a few saves, I thought it was super good in the back, Tadic always has his actions and assists and Haller and Antony make another goal”, Blind sums up. “I feel sorry for the people who have to decide it, but I’m glad they chose me,” he adds with a laugh. In the studio, Jan Boskamp is also full of praise for Blind’s performance and goal. “I’ve never seen him do that, to be honest. It was great how he played.” Erik ten Hag can ‘definitely live’ with the choice for Blind as the best player of the match. “But I certainly also liked Pasveer,” said the trainer.

Blind hands his teammates a compliment after the spectacular victory. “It was a competition at a very high level. These are also competitions that we live towards as a selection,” he indicates. “At this level we can rise to great heights, individually and as a team. It does not come naturally. We work hard every day for it. If it comes out today, that is a compliment to the team.” Thanks to the victory, Ajax is in the lead in Group C of the Champions League with nine points.