Ajax awaits an away match against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Europa League on Thursday evening. After draws against Olympique Marseille (3-3) and AEK Athens (1-1), the Amsterdam team under Hedwiges Maduro are hoping for a first victory. The interim coach already indicated during the preparatory press conference that he would change some accents both defensively and offensively. It Algemeen Dagblad thinks that Maduro will also make changes to the starting eleven.
Maduro will not have Georges Mikautadze available against Brighton, who is missing due to illness, while Devyne Rensch and Jay Gorter have remained behind in Amsterdam due to injuries. The interim coach is therefore forced to choose a new first goalkeeper.
The now dismissed Maurice Steijn replaced Gorter last Sunday against FC Utrecht (4-3 loss) by Diant Ramaj. It A.D expects that the German closing position will also be preferred by Maduro over Remko Pasveer.
In defense, Anton Gaaeii is again the logical replacement for Rensch, while Josip Sutalo and Jorrel Hato should again form the heart of the Amsterdam defense. Borna Sosa, who provided two assists against Utrecht, seems to be serving as left back again.
Benjamin Tahirovic attended Ajax’s press conference on Wednesday evening alongside Maduro and is therefore assured of a place in the starting eleven. Journalist Johan Inan expects the Bosnian to form the midfield with Silvano Vos, who returns from suspension, and Kenneth Taylor. There is no room for Kristian Hlynsson. The young Icelander brought Ajax back into the match against Utrecht on Sunday with two nice goals.
Inan writes that Maduro has ‘in any case’ made room for Steven Berghuis, who made a dramatic raid on Sunday in the cathedral city. The ESPNAnalysts Kenneth Perez and Marciano Vink even spoke of “sabotage” when assessing his performance. On Wednesday, Berghuis was at least verbally present during the training at the American Express Stadium in Brighton, according to Inan.
If Berghuis actually starts as a right winger, this would be at the expense of the Portuguese Carlos Forbs. Finally, Brian Brobbey and Steven Berghuis will retain their starting place.
Presumed Ajax line-up: Ramaj, Gaaeii, Sutalo, Hato, Sosa; Tahirovic, Vos, Taylor; Berghuis, Brobbey, Bergwijn.