Wim Kieft and Kees Jansma expect that Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder will choose to put Daley Blind back in the starting lineup against PSV next Sunday. The 32-year-old defender had to settle for a place on the reserve bench in the Champions League meeting with Rangers (1-3 win) on Tuesday, but according to the analysts Ajax needs Blind against PSV.
Against Rangers, Schreuder chose to give Owen Wijndal a chance. However, the back was injured and had to be replaced by Devyne Rensch at the end of the first half. Still, Jansma thinks that Blind can show it again from the first minute on Sunday. “I think he should play this weekend,” the analyst said on Thursday evening Veronica know. “And he’s going to play. Blind is just a very smart, intelligent player who can play a very important role in the team. Although he lacks the top speed, Ajax needs him against PSV.”
When asked by presenter Hélène Hendriks whether Blind is good enough for Eredivisie level, but not for European level, Jansma answers: “Yes. Like Ajax is good for the Europa League but not for the Champions League.” Kieft agrees with his colleague. “I also think that Blind should play. But what you’re going to get now is that unless he (Blind, ed.), unless he’s going to play central, he’ll be up against that El Ghazi or Madueke and I don’t think that’s a good couple. But hey, then Bassey could play left-back. They’ve done that before.”
In addition, Kieft and Jansma look back at Ajax’s Champions League campaign, which ended after the game with Rangers. “The most lingering thing is that Ajax has fallen short in the Champions League,” said Kieft. “Especially in quality. Of course you drew against a renowned Liverpool and a great playing Napoli. Napoli in particular was simply better than Ajax, which has always been able to dominate in recent years. Also in the Champions League. But the moment those qualities become less, you can no longer dominate those matches.”