It is still unclear whether Daley Blind will be fit in time for the restart in the Europa League, against Young Boys on Thursday. The multifunctional defender had to let Ajax’s home game against FC Groningen (3-1 victory) shoot on Sunday due to a knee injury and trainer Erik ten Hag wonders after the victory in the Johan Cruijff ArenA whether Blind can be used in the first game in the eighth final of the European tournament.
“Are you convinced that he is fit for Thursday?” Ten Hag is asked ESPNreporter Pascal Kamperman. “No, I am not convinced of that”, says the Ajax coach firmly. “Because if he could have played, he would have been on the scoresheet.” Kamperman immediately responds to Ten Hag’s position. “So before Thursday is he still a question mark?” To which the elected lord of the winning team answered briefly and clearly: “Yes.” At Ajax, Nicolás Tagliafico returned to Groningen as a left back, while Edson Álvarez and Lisandro Martínez formed the heart of the Amsterdam defense.
Stekelenburg: ‘Hope to be at least as important as Onana’
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“I just want to get one player out: Maarten Stekelenburg”, Kamperman explains to Ten Hag. “You often see with keepers who have not played for a long time, that they need a long time to get back to their level, to be sharp again. How do you explain how good it is now?” Ten Hag thinks the time of the question is not really correct: “This was a question for January, not anymore.” Kamperman immediately came up with a statement about the 38-year-old goalkeeper: “Playing one or two matches well is different from continuing the first two months, right?”
“He is now back in the rhythm”, is Ten Hag’s answer. “You can see him grow from match to match. And that is nice to know. He radiates a lot of peace and quality.” Kamperman may see opportunities for Stekelenburg with regard to a return to the Dutch national team. “I was thinking: Actually, it would not be surprising at all if he were with the Dutch. What would you think of that? “However, Ten Hag does not want to run too fast with his goalkeeper.” That is up to the national coach, I will not sit in that chair. But I would certainly not find it strange. “58-time international Stekelenburg played in November 2016 against Luxembourg (1-3 victory) for the last time an international match on behalf of the Dutch national team.