Ajax start this afternoon without Lisandro Martínez on the season in the Eredivisie against Sparta Rotterdam. The Argentine midfielder is struggling with a minor injury and is therefore not available at Het Kasteel. Coach Erik ten Hag revealed before the game that Martínez would have played if he had been fit.

“You have to be able to handle things like that. If he was fit, he would have played naturally,” the Ajax coach said when asked in front of the camera. FOX Sports. “Or he would have played if he was fit anyway? We would have to make the choice. But of course he’s a basic player, that’s clear.

Daley Blind returns to Ajax’s base after the defender fell in the training match against Hertha BSC more than two weeks ago due to heart problems. Ten Hag had no doubt this afternoon about the implementability of Orange International. “Blind is also a basic player. We have more than eleven basic players. We need a big locker room because we will be playing a lot of games in a short time.”

Goalkeeper André Onana and left-back Nicolás Tagliafico also start at Ajax today, despite the fact that the duo are still linked with a summer departure. “You always have to keep in mind that they will still be leaving as long as the transfer window is up and running,” Ten Hag emphasizes. “But there comes a time when we as Ajax have to think of ourselves. I assume these players will still be part of our dressing room this season.”

Ajax setup: Onana; Mazraoui, Schuurs, Blind, Tagliafico; Alvarez, Promes, Gravenberch; Antony, Labyad and Tadic.