Aad de Mos is surprised by the role of Mario Götze in the match between Ajax and PSV (5-0). The retired coach observes in conversation with The Telegraph that the German attacking midfielder was sacrificed by trainer Roger Schmidt to stop left back Daley Blind. De Mos also states that it is ‘too non-committal’ at PSV and points out that Götze is sometimes exempt from training.
“Götze didn’t feel like that at all. You have to be aggressive to stop backs,” says De Mos about Götze’s role in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, where he was Blind’s direct opponent because there were two real strikers in the starting eleven with Eran Zahavi and Carlos Vinícíus. “But Schmidt was juggling and PSV was back to square one. We let the good start throw sand in our eyes. PSV has played four matches that mattered. It was staggeringly weak against Benfica, Monaco, Feyenoord and Ajax.”
De Mos finds it significant that the young Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke – who were missing in Amsterdam – are the supporting players at PSV. Jurriën Timber and Ryan Gravenberch can develop themselves at Ajax in an environment of 200, 300 international matches. They are supported by, among others, Tadic and Blind. At PSV, Götze plays his matches, goes home and is sometimes exempt from training. That is too non-committal.”
If it is up to De Mos, the negotiations with Schmidt about extending his expiring contract will be closed on hold and must ‘crack hard nuts’ during the winter break if things don’t get better soon. “You can forget about keeping up with Ajax. It’s all way too little. The wrong pawns have been achieved,” said De Mos, who only considers André Ramalho an asset. “Ajax has more money, but PSV cannot just hide behind it. In Amsterdam they have also brought players for only ten million euros. The scouting is much better there.”
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