Arnold Bruggink is lyrical about the stormy development that Ryan Gravenberch is going through at Ajax. The analyst of ESPN finds it incredible what the midfielder already shows at the national champions at the age of eighteen. In Bruggink’s view, Gravenberch is already indispensable for trainer Erik ten Hag in Ajax’s midfield.
“I was in De Kuip last week and then was watching Gravenberch”, Bruggink opens Thursday in the run-up to Ajax’s home game with VVV-Venlo in the studio of the pay channel. “Actually everyone thinks it’s normal what he does, but that boy is only eighteen years old. He plays with a maturity as if it were the most normal thing in the world. So easy, so functional. In the fit and in physical strength. quite impressive “, says Bruggink, who is supported by fellow analyst Kenneth Perez. Marciano Vink, however, tempered the euphoria that has arisen around Gravenberch.
“It has been away from Gravenberch for a while”, said the former Ajax player. “He made a lot of clumsy mistakes. That’s not surprising, but if you play in Ajax 1, age shouldn’t matter. You also have to be able to criticize such guys.” Vink’s words do not detract from Bruggink’s enthusiasm. He states that Ten Hag can no longer ignore the young midfielder.
“You can’t take him away from Ajax. What he’s showing now is really admirable”, Bruggink adds. Perez wholeheartedly agrees with his colleague from ESPN. “Gravenberch is very good. There was a phase when he did less, but then he really missed the passing of Daley Blind (who is injured, ed.). That meant he had to do more. , that also happens to 26-year-olds “, Perez concludes.
Related
More sports news