Erik ten Hag has explained the choice to play André Onana against Besiktas. The Ajax trainer calls his competitor Remko Pasveer the best Dutch keeper, but also thinks it is important that Onana gains match rhythm. The drafting of Onana is one of the six changes compared to the competition match with RKC Waalwijk (0-5 victory). Wednesday evening Ajax will play against Besiktas from 6.45 pm.
“A number of things are forced,” Ten Hag tells RTL 7. “Edson Álvarez is not there, Jurriën Timber has some complaints and yesterday Antony also dropped out at training with complaints.” As a result, players such as Davy Klaassen, Perr Schuurs and David Neres have a basic place. Furthermore, Nicolás Tagliafico and Mohamed Daramy make their entrance into the starting eleven. It was expected that Ten Hag would tinker with his starting eleven, but the drafting of Onana was a big surprise.
‘Onana has to get used to Ajax again, but Pasveer remains my number 1’ ???
Ten Hag explains his choice for Onana under the bar ??#ZiggoSport #UCL #besaja pic.twitter.com/ADMGXgrucM
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) Nov 24, 2021
“I think Remko is the best Dutch goalkeeper at the moment. But the season is long,” says Ten Hag. “André has very little match rhythm. Last week he kept two games. He has to start goalkeeping again, after you have been out for a year. We have made a good build-up, via Jong Ajax and training sessions at Ajax 1 and matches with Cameroon. This is the next baptism of fire.” Opposite Ziggo Sports Ten Hag emphasizes that Pasveer is currently his first keeper.
“For me, Remko is the first keeper at the moment. He is very convincing. I don’t think anyone expected that he would play so well except Marc Overmars and me. I hope he continues to take steps in his development. to see,” said the trainer, who RTL 7 adds ‘actions’ to want to see from Daramy. “There are opportunities on the inside, in the back of central defence, against backs who aren’t too quick and who are vulnerable defensively. He can do that. He’s been with us for a while, is acclimated and showing it in training .”
Ajax setup: onana; Mazraoui, Schuurs, Martinez, Tagliafico; Gravenberch, Berghuis, Klaassen; Neres, Tadic, Daramy.