Trainer Alfred Schreuder has given text and explanation about the line-up of Ajax. Although the team from Amsterdam fell hard in the Champions League match with Napoli (1-6), the elector is not making any personnel changes for the meeting with FC Volendam. However, Schreuder has switched two positions in the back: Daley Blind moves to the center, leaving Calvin Bassey in left back position.
“Today we want to see how Calvin can do it as a left back,” Schreuder says in conversation with ESPN. “We know that he has played a lot there and he could be a good combination with Tadic. We looked at our own game in the first phase of the build-up and saw too few developments in it. You can say defensively Bassey is good in the center with Timber. Of course it is, but we want to see it this way now.”
“Whether we are more vulnerable defensively? Look, if you are very good at the ball, you also become less vulnerable defensively,” the coach continues. “We’ve seen a few times now that some teams put a lot of pressure on us and we didn’t handle it well.” In the left back position, the trainer also has Owen Wijndal at his disposal, but according to Schreuder, he is not yet match fit. Wijndal has been out of action for four to five weeks due to an ankle injury. He did become fit again after that, but during the international match he was ill for four days. He is not match fit yet.”
Despite the heavy defeat against Napoli, Schreuder does not make changes in the starting eleven. “I play with the same eleven names because I know that the boys also want revenge. It is obviously not good what we showed against Napoli. We’ve thought about intervening, but I think this is intervening in a different way. These guys played fantastic three weeks ago. Everyone can think of something, but I decide,” concludes Schreuder.