Rafael van der Vaart and Theo Janssen saw that it was especially hard for Devyne Rensch and Daley Blind during Ajax’s visit to Liverpool (2-1 loss). The former midfielders regard the two backs as the biggest defensive weakness of the team from Amsterdam. “Blind and Rensch just have a very hard time when they are under pressure at the highest level,” said Van der Vaart at Ziggo Sports.
Rensch was lost at times by Luis Díaz. The right back also struggled with aches and pains and had to be replaced by Jorge Sánchez in the 68th minute of play. “I can be quite annoyed by that if I’m honest,” says Van der Vaart. “It just happens too often for such a young boy. Mazraoui also had a period when he was always bothered by something.”
Mohamed Salah gets an unmissable opportunity… and he doesn’t miss it either: 1-0! ?? ? Now live ?? @ElSierd?? Ziggo Sports Football#ZiggoSport #UCL #LIVAJA pic.twitter.com/wTDjFJ5e7n
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) September 13, 2022
“Rensch has played quite an ‘okay’ match”, continues the former Ajax player. “But the pressure got really big today when he was passed by Luis Díaz and maybe after that he thought: it’s been nice. I don’t want to say that he feigned an injury, because he must have suffered. It’s just a little too easy for me that he wants out in the sixtieth minute every time. Maybe it’s a bit busy. If he’s really injured, it’s not good either. If you can’t play a whole game as a young boy…”, says Van der Vaart.
Janssen continues at RTL 7 about the other Ajax back. “Blind gets into his weakness when he has to play very large spaces,” says Janssen. “I think Blind is really good on the ball, but as soon as he has to defend in spaces and… He lets his man walk, or he doesn’t know where and when to cover. At some point in the second half he was on the wrong side with Mohamed Salah…” The Egyptian was able to lay wide on Luis Díaz, who shot wide in a very promising position. “As soon as Blind comes to defend in large spaces, he is actually just not good enough,” Janssen concludes once again.
Already in the halftime of the match, Janssen made mincemeat of Blind because of his role in Salah’s early goal. Jurriën Timber takes on the duel, while Rensch has to take on the duel. Blind is sleeping, fifteen meters from his man. Salah is completely free and can simply shoot him in. This also has to do with the way Ajax puts pressure on him. “Blind must first see what will happen. If the keeper plays a long ball, you should not cover. That is what Blind is doing when countering the goal.”