Edson Álvarez can win his second national title with Ajax on Sunday. With a win over AZ and a loss by PSV visiting Feyenoord, the team from Amsterdam is assured of the national championship. The Mexican midfielder has barely played in recent matches, partly due to a minor injury. Álvarez believes that it took him a long time to dispel the doubts of the Amsterdam fans.
In conversation with Ajax TV Álvarez looks back on the past three seasons. Last week, the midfielder played his hundredth game in the shirt of Ajax, when he came inside the lines ten minutes before time in the home game against PEC Zwolle. “It is very difficult to choose one moment. There have been many beautiful moments in this stadium. I still choose the match that I made my debut in the Champions League in which I scored (against APOEL Nicosia, ed.). That was a very special moment. That moment will always stay with me, but after that there have been many more beautiful moments,” said Álvarez.
The Mexican looks back on the painful elimination in the Champions League against Benfica, when he says he played a great game himself. “The taste of loss is nasty,” he says. “When you lose games like that, it’s very difficult. I think that was one of my best games. Also the game against Borussia Dortmund was great. We played well the whole game, everyone. There are more games, but in that one I really showed who I am in competitions. I still have a lot to improve. But I also have to be good at what I can do well. I also have to keep working on that.”
Álvarez has never been undisputed at Ajax. The Mexican international took a long time to win the hearts of the Amsterdam fans. “My main job is to take the balls, keep the ball in the squad and play it to my teammates. That’s my job. I know I don’t always appeal to everyone because they are used to other midfielders, but my numbers speak for themselves.” for themselves. I’m happy about that. I always want to get more and better and I will continue to work hard to maintain these stats.” Álvarez has a passing accuracy of 90 percent this season. In the Champions League, this is even slightly higher at 94 percent.
“We have very good communication with each other. Sometimes you don’t need words. With observation alone you know where to go. During the competition you sometimes lean on your intuition. I can’t explain it further, because it’s something that you feel inside,” Álvarez refers to his part in the attacking game. “In the end only the memories will remain. One day I will tell all the memories to my children. ‘Your father played a hundred matches for Ajax'”, concludes a proud Álvarez.