Noussair Mazraoui has started this season as a basic player for the time being. The 22-year-old wing defender has to do with Ajax this year without his buddy Hakim Ziyech, who exchanged Amsterdam for an employment contract with Chelsea last summer. In conversation with The Telegraph Mazraoui explains that he learned an important lesson from Ziyech.

“There are really a lot of them”, Mazraoui answers when asked what advice he received from Ziyech. “An important lesson, for example, is that I always have to believe in myself. In addition, I have to remember that I do it for myself and no one else, so that I constantly have to get the best out of myself. And he emphasizes that opinions will always be formed about me. No matter how well I do. I am not allowed to worry about it and Hakim has to stay close to myself. ”

“I miss him very much. Of course his qualities in competitions and training, but also his personality, presence and conviviality. Teasing each other a bit outside of training and competitions. Fortunately, we are still often in touch. And of course I am very proud of him, just as he says he is proud of me. That is a confirmation that I am on the right track and gives me a lot of confidence ”, the Moroccan international continues. Last season, Mazraoui had to miss part of the season due to a ‘knee and foot injury’, as he calls it. Partly because of this, it was quiet around him in an ‘unhappy year’.

“Partly, but also because I didn’t play much. What do you want to talk about in interviews? I didn’t have much to say. Now that I play again, you will see me appear more often ”, says Mazraoui. Ajax starts the Champions League campaign on Wednesday evening with a ‘very difficult’ home game against Liverpool in the words of the right back / midfielder. “But the belief in a good result is always there at Ajax. I think it will have to be okay. We are going to give one hundred percent, no more, to achieve a good result. ”