Erik ten Hag has taken a fully fit selection to Italy for the quarter-final match in the Europa League against AS Roma. As usual, the Ajax coach does not want to reveal his position at the press conference on Wednesday. “We have many variants and tomorrow they will see which card we are going to draw”, said the trainer.
Brian Brobbey and Perr Schuurs were question marks, but are therefore fit enough to play. “The people we brought are fit, but Schuurs has been out for a while”, says Ten Hag, who may not have a basic place in mind for the center-back. In any case, the coach will have to set up a replacement for Devyne Rensch, because the right back is suspended.
“We have several options and I’m not going to reveal which card I’m going to play right now. Sean Klaiber can play there, we can slide with Jurriën Timber and we also brought Quinten Timber, also a player who can play there. possibilities to move. There are a number of considerations: fitness, and secondly we look at what will be needed tomorrow, so the tactical consideration. “
Valentijn Driessen asks Ten Hag what he thinks about the role of Dusan Tadic. The captain of Ajax usually plays as a striker in the Europa League, but could also play on the left, which could free up a place for Brobbey in the center. “We have seen that Dusan has an incredible amount of return from those zones from the left, but I have never said that he cannot play well in that other role. It depends very much on what you have at your disposal: who is in it? form? What do you need against a particular opponent? “
Ten Hag is further asked about an important factor to be able to advance to the semi-finals on Thursday. “Ruthlessness. Italians have an edge for that. But I am sure that if my team plays these kinds of matches more often, they will adapt. Then they can, for example, take a 2-0 lead against Atalanta and they do not give up. counters away. In those moments you have to be ruthless and strike to control the result. But I am sure that as my players become more experienced, they will do that too. “