Dick Schreuder does not find it strange that Alfred Schreuder has had a difficult start period at Ajax. The PEC Zwolle trainer supports his brother and points out that there are more trainers who had a hard time in Amsterdam in the beginning. After the defeat against PSV (1-2) and draws against Vitesse (2-2) and FC Emmen (3-3), the coach’s chair legs were sawn in the media, although according to Ajax his position is still tenable .
“It’s just a turbulent time now, but it’s always turbulent at Ajax’, says Dick Schreuder Football International. “Most new trainers there have a hard time in their early stages.” The PEC trainer cites Erik ten Hag, who became Ajax trainer at the end of 2017, as an example. “I can still remember when Alfred and Erik ten Hag joined Ajax. The two of them then also had a very difficult time in the first half of the year, which was the second half of the season. And in the summer of 2018, it was all difficult at the beginning.” Ajax finally won the double in the 2018/2019 season and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Schreuder indicates that he sometimes talks to his brother about the difficult initial period at Ajax. “Of course you talk about this. Of course I know him differently. We are both a bit explosive at times, but other than that we are just calm. With the things we’ve been through in our lives, and the things he brought with him, I know he can put this into perspective very well. As a result, he has become such that he can handle these kinds of things, you know.”
After his brother’s appointment as coach of Ajax, Schreuder was also associated with the team from Amsterdam. He had the opportunity to work as an assistant to Alfred. “I chose myself because I just wanted to continue on my own two feet. We had already worked together, but in the end I chose not to.” Jan Joost van Gangelen reported on Monday ESPN Today that Schreuder is about to leave PEC Zwolle behind, in order to become the successor to Frank Wormuth at FC Groningen.