Erik ten Hag is happy that David Neres against sc Heerenveen (0-2 win) could be important as a substitute for Ajax by scoring the second goal. The coach of the team from Amsterdam spoke to the right attacker after the match against FC Utrecht (1-0 loss) about his lesser game and thought that Neres was making a bid for a base place on Saturday.
Neres missed a huge opportunity against Utrecht in the initial phase and was put on the bench against Heerenveen. “He did not enforce it in the opportunities in the big games, he did not show it,” Ten Hag told ESPN. “Then we expect more, in possession, but certainly also in pressing. And also offensively, against FC Utrecht he was in too late and his shot could be blocked. I also spoke to him about that. And when I see how he it translates today, today he was there in time to finish.” Neres headed in a cross from Dusan Tadic at the far post. “That’s what we want to see from him and we demand that from all our players. If he does, he’s a candidate to play.”
In general, Ten Hag is satisfied with his team. “I don’t have much to criticize, but two things: that we allow two counters, that is a minus. And cashing in on the opportunities, because I think it should be 0-3 at half time.” After the break Ajax had a bit of trouble. “It mainly has to do with us that our midfielder is too high. That we lost the ball too quickly and that the midfield is suddenly completely open. Yes, that is not good.”
Toine van Peperstraten concludes in the conversation that Ten Hag ‘tried to convert that with bills’. “I did not try to convert that, I converted that”, Ten Hag is adamant. “And the effect was there. With the introduction of Lisandro Martínez, Jurriën Timber in midfield and Ryan Gravenberch also a position higher, the peace and control was back. That header from Sven van Beek could have gone in, but then the peace was there again.” Ten Hag replaced Mohammed Kudus, but is not dissatisfied with the midfielder. “He has done well. He is of course a very creative boy, he has shown that. He was involved in opportunities and making connections. We are satisfied with that.” On Tuesday, Ajax will play at home against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.