Maurice Steijn has slightly changed Ajax’s line-up for the Eredivisie match with Excelsior compared to the match against Heracles Almelo (4-1 win). Kenneth Taylor has to settle for a spot on the bench, while Mohammed Kudus starts as number 10. Carlos Forbs is therefore facing his official basic debut in the shirt of Ajax.
During the preview of the meeting with Excelsior, Steijn explains why he does not start with Taylor in the base. “With Forbs I have a real winger at my disposal. He has a good action, is fast and then you want to bring him,” says the 49-year-old coach ESPN.
“Kudus can also play very well as ’10’”, Steijn continues. “He will also play deeper more often, like a kind of ‘9.5’. He is always good for actions and goals. If I have to choose between Taylor and Kudus on ’10’ at the moment, I will choose Kudus and on ‘8’ I prefer Branco van den Boomen over Taylor for this match.”
Despite his place on the bench against Excelsior, Steijn calls Taylor a ‘very good player’. “He played a lot in the preparation. He started in the base last match against Heracles. Only when I get more and more options, then I look at what I need per match. In Van den Boomen’s position I need someone who can move the game very quickly through passing, which is why I choose Branco.”
Carlos Forbs
Ajax surprised at the beginning of August by taking over Forbs from Manchester City for at least fourteen million euros. Bee the Citizens the Portuguese almost only played as a left winger. Still, Steijn thinks that the fast wing attacker can also work well as a right winger. “I saw him come in excellently as a right winger against Heracles this week. He is also doing well in that position in training. Steven Berghuis is our left winger, but can also play on ’10’. We have a number of players who can play in different positions up front, which I like very much.