Daley Blind may not return to Ajax after the World Cup. The left leg, who is preparing with the the Dutch for the first group match against Senegal, says in conversation with the NOS that he will only consider his future in Amsterdam after the final tournament. In recent weeks, Blind has had less playing time at Ajax than he would like under trainer Alfred Schreuder.
Ajax closed the first phase of the season as number two in the Eredivisie, three points behind leader Feyenoord. That doesn’t sit well with Blind, but questions from the NOS he prefers not to answer about his situation in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. “It’s not that I haven’t played for six months, so at least I don’t miss any rhythm,” says the experienced defender, who usually plays as wingback on the left under national coach Louis van Gaal. “I am in top shape to be able to compete here at this World Cup.”
Jeroen Stekelenburg, the reporter of the NOS, then asks if Blind would still like to return to Ajax after the World Cup. The defender does not want to reveal too much about that either, but he certainly does not rule out a departure. “You can ask anything about it, but I won’t go into that. I’m here now to focus on the World Cup and we’ll see what happens after December 18 (the day of the final, ed.).”
In any case, Blind feels supported by the national coach in Qatar. Where Schreuder seems to have lost faith in the 94-time international at Ajax, Van Gaal stated that he does not care about Blind’s difficult period in Amsterdam. After all, the trainer states that Blind in the Dutch plays in a completely different position and the protagonist himself did that well. “It is always nice when a trainer expresses confidence in you in that way,” the Ajax player responds to Van Gaal’s words.