Kenneth Perez thinks that the goalkeeper position at Ajax is not ‘top’ occupied. ‘s analyst ESPN Saturday saw how Remko Pasveer got the chance against Fortuna Sittard from Alfred Schreuder. The 38-year-old goalie scored two goals, including a beautiful free kick from Burak Yilmaz, but Ajax still won. “After such a first half you are of course relieved,” said Pasveer afterwards.
Ajax fell behind early in the first half due to a goal from Paul Gladon and was unable to compensate for that before half-time. “Ultimately, it’s about what you do with possession of the ball and that you create opportunities,” says Pasveer. “We were slow and switched sides too little, so we had little space. We did better in the second half.”
What an entrance! Debutant Burak Yilmaz curls in a free kick ???? pic.twitter.com/GaUzMO4zo9
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) August 6, 2022
Pasveer was therefore preferred over Jay Gorter, who made a big mistake in the Johan Cruijff Scale against PSV (3-5 loss). Leo Oldenburger states that Pasveer is now the first keeper. “Who said that?” Pasveer smiles. “I have heard from the coach that I am playing today. That is the situation and that is not what has been said. We all want to play and I was allowed to play today, I am happy with that. You know that with keepers not changed very quickly becomes, but you always have to keep performing, that’s only good at a club like Ajax plays. If you want to stay standing, you have to perform.”
Perez concludes that Schreuder has ‘no need’ to designate a first goalkeeper already. “He doesn’t need that. Apparently they don’t differ much from each other.” Perez thinks the position is a concern at Ajax. “The ambition that Ajax has is that they want to have a topper in every place, but of course they don’t have a topper in the goal. Pasveer has done well, but of course it is not a topper. He is 39 (38, ed.) , that is not someone you can always rely on, although he did well last year, I want to continue to emphasize that Maarten (Stekelenburg, ed.) is of course injured and also on the old side, we saw Jay Gorter on Saturday : that is a young keeper and you just have to wait and see how he does it. It is also difficult for a trainer.”
Yilmaz .’s free kick
Pasveer was unable to keep a hard free kick from Yilmaz out of his goal in the final phase. “You know he has the qualities and he can shoot with the right in both corners, I was a bit in doubt,” said the experienced goalie. “I don’t know if he went through or over the wall, I haven’t seen it again. I don’t think I could have done much differently. You actually have to make sure you don’t commit a violation in that place.”
Perez points to the wall as the culprit at Ajax. “It’s just a hard ball, but the wall…”, said the Dane. “The wall breaks apart, and one also jumps with his back to the ball. What you want from the wall: stay together, jump up together and face the ball. Here one jumps to the left, the other with his back, and then the keeper has no chance. He is actually in front of the other corner. The wall just jumps very badly here.”