Ajax’s gigantic victory against SC Cambuur (9-0) calls in the studio of ESPN a fierce discussion about the playing style of the Frisians. Hugo Borst states that Cambuur could have been more defensive in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, while Marciano Vink states that Henk de Jong’s team is used to playing attacking football. “You think from an Amsterdam perspective”, Borst tells Vink.
Vink believes that the visitors cannot be blamed too much. “Cambuur really did okay in the beginning, only Ajax is just so many times better,” says the former football player. “That is also due to the competition at Ajax: everyone is razor sharp. When the goals come, you see that everyone is looking forward to it. That tenth could have been made, if Ryan Gravenberch simply puts that ball back instead of selfishly trying to make a tenth.” Gravenberch shot the ball out of the spin on the post, after which the game was over.
Borst draws a comparison with Sparta Rotterdam, of which he is a fan. “I don’t think this will happen to Sparta, because Henk Fraser is really going to play with two walls. Then it will be 4-1, or 2-0.” Borst believes that Cambuur has done far too little to make it difficult for Ajax. “No offenses, man! It’s just a free pass. This has nothing to do with opposition, does it?”
According to Vink, defensive play is not in Cambuur’s nature. “It is also true that Sparta’s playing style is closer to what you suggest they should do than Cambuur’s playing style. Cambuur’s playing style is really based on flying out, backs clapping over it. Are you going to make a lot of concessions to your playing style for those one or two games? I don’t think so.”
However, that is not the case at all with Borst. “Why not? If you concede these goals, it can cost you Eredivisie title, on goal difference. You really think from an Amsterdam perspective. You always want to see beautiful football. We just have to undergo that Ajax can get a breath of fresh air and let the football go.” see…” Vink is visibly agitated by Borst’s comments.
“No, I don’t look at all from an Amsterdam perspective. That’s bullshit”, he bites Borst. “If there is one that has nothing to do with Amsterdam, then it is me. Yes, I live there, but that does not mean that I look from an Amsterdam perspective? That is a strange comparison. So no people can live in Rotterdam who have Ajax support?” After that, the discussion is cut short by Jan Joost van Gangelen.