Willem van Hanegem remains unclear who will win the Classic next Sunday. Due to the crisis at Ajax and the excellent form of Feyenoord, more and more experts are predicting a victory for the Rotterdam team. Van Hanegem does not agree with that. “A lot can change in football in just a few days,” the analyst notes in his column for it Algemeen Dagblad.
The Curve saw a world of difference between the two archrivals this weekend. ‘His’ Feyenoord could charm him. “Feyenoord showed real football against Heerenveen. The first half hour was enjoyable and I don’t say that very often. Luka Ivanusec is such a smart player, Igor Paixão is getting better and better. I would also let him play on the right against Celtic,” advises Van Hanegem.
Feyenoord will kick off the Champions League season against the Scots next week. Van Hanegem is vigilant against underestimation. “I certainly don’t believe that they are being overrun like Heerenveen. You just don’t play like that every week. I hope Feyenoord wins, but I have seen those Japanese Kyogo, Hatate and Maeda from Celtic at work a few times. And the Korean Yang. Believe me, they are not cake bakers. On the contrary.”
Van Hanegem also ‘really has to see’ a victory in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Sunday. “It is of course nonsense when people say that all those Ajax players have to get used to the level or cannot cope. If you are brought to Amsterdam for such amounts, then you will surely be able to show something in the Eredivisie? Or that German Mislintat has no view on it at all, that is also possible.”
“I really have yet to see that Ajax just beats Celtic and Ajax,” concludes Van Hanegem. “Just as well, it is nonsense that Ajax could not beat Olympique Marseille and Feyenoord. A lot can change in football in a few days.”