Youri Baas hopes to secure a starting spot at Ajax 1 next season. The left wing defender wore the captain's armband on Thursday evening in the friendly match against Al Wasl (2-1 win), which was his first time in the first team.

“That was fun,” Baas responded to the Ajax club channel about the captaincy. “I didn't expect it. Branco (van den Boomen, ed.) went to the side and he was told to give the armband to me. That is something special.”

Ajax had the better of the game for almost the entire match, but failed to express this in the score. Julian Rijkhoff and Branco van den Boomen scored at the TEC complex in Tiel. A deflection by Sivert Mannsverk led to a late counter goal.

“As a team we had the ball a lot,” said Baas. “The duels could have been better at times, but we had control. For me it's nice to be back at Ajax after a year at NEC.”

'I've never been so fit in preparation!'

Aaron Bouwman & Youri Baas' Reactions after Ajax – Al Wasl pic.twitter.com/dpO2HrCHFi

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) July 18, 2024

Baas played as central defender against Al Wasl alongside the sixteen-year-old Aaron Bouwman. “That took some getting used to, also because I had never played with Aaron before. But I have played centrally from the first training. It is getting better and better.”

Baas notices that trainer Francesco Farioli has a clear plan. “We train a lot. Every day, sometimes twice a day. From day one we train very hard. I have to be honest: I don't think I've ever been so fit in the preparation.”

“We talked about my position right on the first day. I'm focusing on the central defence position, but I can also play left back. Both are fine.”

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