Ryan Gravenberch was replaced on Sunday afternoon after 65 minutes during FC Twente – Ajax (1-1) and he was visibly not happy with that, Ronald de Boer commented afterwards. With a 0-1 lead, the the Dutch international was replaced by Devyne Rensch, who in turn played as left back, leaving Daley Blind in midfield.
“I don’t know if you noticed, but Gravenberch is not happy,” said De Boer after the game in front of the camera of ESPN. “He was furious that he was substituted.” De Boer thinks other players deserved more to be substituted. “I found playing blind very mediocre. Gravenberch is also the man in shape in my eyes. I had left that one. I understand his frustration that he was substituted, I didn’t see it coming.”
Gravenberch took all the time during his substitution to go to the side. “He was dynamic, wants to play forward and has a good flow. It’s a coach’s choice, but at the time he didn’t accept it.” De Boer saw Ajax play sloppy in the Grolsch Veste on Sunday afternoon. “Ajax has a pass accuracy of 75 percent. You’d think that’s pretty high. Well, that’s dramatic. Normally they are at 85 or 86 percent, maybe higher.”
“This was distressing for Ajax today, that you lost so many unnecessary balls. Then I mention Blind, Berghuis, Gravenberch… There were so many boys who suffered stupid loss of possession”, says De Boer, who especially thought Steven Berghuis played a weak game. “With his left leg being praised, he was very inaccurate. All in all, it was a very mediocre match for Ajax.” After the break, Ajax took the lead via Sébastien Haller, but only returns home with a point due to a late goal by Robin Pröpper.