Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder understand Erik ten Hag’s choice to pit Ryan Gravenberch against Benfica. The midfielder is preferred over Davy Klaassen and forms a midriff with Edson Álvarez and the attacking-minded Steven Berghuis. Although Gravenberch is going through a lesser phase in the eyes of Van der Vaart and Sneijder, the analysts think that his qualities can come in handy on Wednesday evening.
Bee Ziggo Sports says Van der Vaart that he finds the choice logical. “They did a great job with Gravenberch,” he refers to the matches in the group stage. “He may be in a bit of a difficult period, but I find it difficult to drop him. Of course you know what you get with Klaassen in the team. But I think the qualities of Gravenberch are amazing. He should continue to play these kinds of matches That is also good for the team. You just need him in these kinds of matches.”
“Hard to drop Gravenberch…he’s insane!”@wytsevdgoot and @rafvdvaart discuss the starting place for the 18-year-old Ajax player ‘Too bad if he leaves. First become dominant here’#ZiggoSport #UCL #BENAJA pic.twitter.com/lkpMJ7hUbn
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Gravenberch disappeared from the starting eleven before the game with Heracles Almelo (3-0 win), because he was absent due to a corona infection. Ten Hag has since invariably opted for a midfield with Klaassen, Álvarez and Berghuis. With that setup Ajax was not only successful against Heracles, but also against FC Twente (5-0 win) and Willem II (0-1 win). Nevertheless, the choice now falls on Gravenberch, which means that Klaassen is on the bench.
Van der Vaart thinks that Ajax will get a little more ‘body’ in midfield with the entrance of Gravenberch. “Berghuis is of course looking for his freedom a lot. Gravenberch is more of a real midfielder. Of course he runs a lot with the ball, but he is so strong that he is always back on time. I just like to see him play. They have it. Done so well in this combination in midfield, then you shouldn’t change that, even if someone is a little less in shape.”
Has Ajax’s position also become more defensive? “We know Klaassen as a player who often scores, but he can also play very conservatively. I like the talent and physical qualities of Gravenberch, he is an all-rounder. As a trainer I would not let him down,” concludes the analyst. Bee RTL7 Sneijder adds that a position with Berghuis as an attacking midfielder requires two controllers. “That is Álvarez anyway, while Gravenberch is just a bit more of a controller than Klaassen.”
“So it’s a bit of certainty. But if you look at the last few weeks, I think that Gravenberch is decreasing in quality,” Sneijder adds. “He was much more active in possession of the ball, but now he tries and it goes very often error. Then there’s also a player who gets into position to shoot a lot, but he hardly ever shoots and scores. In addition, he has no final pass. So you’re going to make a choice. I do understand for tonight though.”