Ronald de Boer has little confidence in the defensive duo Youri Baas-Josip Sutalo, the analyst makes clear after the match between Ajax and FK Vojvodina (1-0). The analyst thinks that the center of the Amsterdammers lacks speed to be able to take on 'tougher' opponents.

Ajax started the new season with a narrow victory. The team of new coach Francesco Farioli did not perform convincingly at home in the second preliminary round of the Europa League against Vojvodina. Thanks to a late header by substitute Branco van den Boomen, they did win.

“I still have doubts about the left-back position. Jorrel Hato is there now, of course, but isn't Hato a central defender?”, De Boer wonders out loud after the match in front of the camera of Ziggo Sport.

“With the choice of Hato as left back, I think you have to have a lot of confidence in your wingers. There has to be a constant threat, like in the case of Lamine Yamal or Nico Williams, for example, so that it is not necessary for the full-back to go over them.”

“But I don't have that feeling with these Ajax wingers. I don't think Hato is really suited to the role of left back. He's not a modern left back yet. I think he's good defensively and I think he's better centrally.”

Farioli chose to put Youri Baas in the centre next to Josip Sutalo, but according to De Boer this is an unfortunate combination that lacks a lot of speed.

“Baas did more than decent. Against good opponents you will see that Youri Baas does not have absolute speed. With Hato you have more certainty because he is faster. But the way Ajax plays, with a lot of space in the back, then you cannot go for the Dutch championship with Youri Baas and Josip Sutalo”, according to De Boer.

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