Edson Álvarez has learned a lot from John Heitinga in four months. The 25-year-old Mexican tells this in conversation with Football International. Álvarez calls Heitinga ‘a top trainer’ in that conversation, and points mainly to the selection as the cause of the sporting malaise at Ajax this season. “We just didn’t have enough weapons as a team,” Álvarez judges afterwards.
Heitinga came in front of the group at the end of January, after Alfred Schreuder was congé because of the disappointing results. A breath of fresh air arrived with Heitinga, Álvarez thought. “Believe me: he is a top coach, who has helped me a lot. He also has a lot of experience as a player at the top, coincidentally also in the positions where I play, as a central defender or controlling midfielder. As a result, he often knew me very focused give tips, such as choosing position,” says Álvarez.
But Heitinga didn’t have it easy either, the Mexican saw. “Because the selection was not suddenly different. We just didn’t have enough weapons as a team, you have to be honest after this season.” With ‘weapons’, Álvarez also refers to mental strength. “Guys like Dusan Tadic and I have been through in recent years and our character is very strong that we stand up for each other. I also mean that with weapons, not only playing football, but also mental skills. With guys like Martínez, Tagliafico, but also We had plenty of players like Haller and Antony in the team.”
The departure of his buddies left Álvarez with a greater sense of responsibility than before. “My role has changed, I have noticed that. Now I noticed that I was more emphatically involved with other players. Young talented players such as Francisco Conceição, Lorenzo Lucca, Jorge Sánchez. They were new to the club and I tried them every day to help with everything. In recent seasons you had more players who were present in that way, then I apparently stand out less. “
Álvarez has probably already played his last match for Ajax. The center back-cum-defensive midfielder is coveted by clubs from abroad and Borussia Dortmund in particular seems to be on the ropes. Álvarez came to 147 matches for Ajax in four seasons, in which he scored thirteen times and was the principal six times. Twice he became national champion and once he won the TOTO KNVB Cup.