Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 9:01 PM• Martin van Mourik

John Heitinga has a clear explanation for his choices in Ajax’s line-up. On Thursday evening, the team from Amsterdam will play the return against 1. FC Union Berlin in the knockout round of the Europa League, with four defenders on paper. The coach of Ajax explains that Edson Álvarez moves to midfield in possession of the ball, but that he is part of the back line when Union has the ball.

“What you see is that we are standing with three defenders,” says Heitinga in front of the camera ESPN. “With that we try to ‘create’ an extra midfielder, which gives you a diamond. The wingers then have to keep the field wider and we mainly assume the interaction between Steven Berghuis and Mohammed Kudus. We want to see variety in midfield. It can be Edson Álvarez who moves on, but it can also be done in other ways. Álvarez could get into the number 6 position. The moment the opponent has the ball, Edson must be able to get into the last line.”