Remko Pasveer has spoken out about his relationship with André Onana. The goalkeepers compete at Ajax for a basic place under the bar, although Pasveer remains the first choice for trainer Erik ten Hag for the time being. In conversation with The Parool Pasveer gives an insight into the ‘battle’ with the Cameroonian closing post, he discusses his chances with the the Dutch squad and shines back on his blunder in the Champions League match with Sporting Portugal (1-5).
“Excellent keeper who did a great job at Ajax, but I also knew that I would not just be pushed aside when he returned to the selection,” says Pasveer about Onana. “You also have to deal with the team process, you should not disrupt that. I have a good relationship with Onana. Nice guy. It must also be very strange if people have problems with me. I am not easily chastised, I am helpful in the group. They often say: keepers are on their own, but I am not a loner.”
Although the relationship with Onana is good, Pasveer still remembers a statement from Ten Hag that was difficult to accept at first. On the morning before the Champions League game against Besiktas (1-2), the 38-year-old goalkeeper was told by his trainer that Onana would be on target. “I understand the club’s point of view very well: after Stekelenburg’s departure, the line is thin. I also knew it was a one-off that André would keep goal, but I wanted to stay in that flow. “But you’re the boss,” I said to Erik. He had to laugh. ‘Yes, I’m the boss.’”
Finally, Ajax’s first keeper discusses his chances of going with the the Dutch squad to the 2022 World Cup. “I’m not thinking about it. I am not going to say that I belong in the the Dutch squad either. That’s up to others. If you look at the game of the Dutch national team and how Ajax does that, there are many similarities. That might explain a choice for me. But if you look to the future, I’m not going to last another five years. So I also understand the choice for younger keepers”, concludes Pasveer.
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