Nordin Amrabat believes that Josip Sutalo should be given more time at Ajax. The 36-year-old attacker from AEK Athens faced the Croatian defender in the Europa League on Thursday evening, who is having a very difficult time in his first months in Amsterdam.
AEK only managed to outwit Ajax’s vulnerable-looking defense once via a header from Domagoj Vida. The team from Amsterdam scored via a penalty from Steven Bergwijn, making it 1-1. Amrabat counters afterwards ESPN to have been impressed by several players at Ajax.
Amrabat highlights Sutalo in particular. With a transfer fee of up to 23.5 million euros, the Croat is considered the most expensive defender in Ajax’s history, but has made an uncertain impression so far. “Sutalo will get there,” Amrabat nevertheless emphasizes.
“Believe me, once Sutalo acclimatizes a bit… He really has qualities.” Gastón Ávila, Sutalo’s central back partner, received a lot of criticism afterwards for the many losses he suffered (29 times). “Ávila needs to take a little less risk in his game,” says Amrabat. “But Ajax does have players with potential. Definitely.”
“And Berghuis remains a good player. And Brobbey, what an animal. Especially after what he experienced last week, I think what he showed is very impressive.” Amrabat is referring to Brobbey’s collision with RKC Waalwijk goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen.
Amrabat himself makes an unprecedentedly fit impression at the age of 36. “We regularly do physical tests. Then I am in the top three of all players everywhere, so that is good.”
Yet the former PSV player does not play everything. “Our coach (Matias Almeyda, ed.) rotates a lot, just like Roger Schmidt at PSV. Our trainer regularly takes out all four attackers after 65 minutes. “Fresh blood,” he says. And it works. We have won the double and we have few injuries. The coach knows what he is doing.”