Erik ten Hag will continue to use Zakaria Labyad for the time being. The attacking midfielder of Ajax is suspected of involvement in a violent incident, but was allowed to fill in against RKC Waalwijk (0-5 win) on Sunday and made his first minutes of play since August 14. Ten Hag says afterwards at the press conference that Labyad makes a good impression on the training and partly because of that deserved his substitute.
Labyad has an expiring contract, but that fact does not prevent Ten Hag from using him. “He works hard and is important to the group. He always plays his part, including in training,” the trainer is quoted as saying by Football International. “And he can score a goal, you can see that by the ball on the crossbar.” In stoppage time, a bicycle kick by Labyad landed on the crossbar, preventing the sixth Amsterdam goal from being scored.
“We lacked that against Heracles Almelo and Go Ahead Eagles”, Ten Hag refers to scoring ability. “When we switched, too little happened. And he is the type that can always score a goal out of nowhere. Either with a free kick, or with a good shot or by having a share with a corner taken. He also has a very good sense of positioning in the box.”
Ten Hag is then asked about the situation of Quincy Promes, who is being prosecuted by the Public Prosecution Service for attempted murder. “I find those things incomparable,” said the trainer, who does not regret letting Promes play at Ajax in his last period. “Certainly not, because in the Netherlands you are innocent until proven otherwise.” Promes is suspected of stabbing his cousin at a family celebration.
Labyad is said to have been involved in a violent incident between a contractor, Labyad and his family on July 5, 2020. There was a dispute about the quality of the work delivered by the contractor at Labyad’s villa in Het Gooi. The contractor reported to the villa for a discussion about the further financial settlement, when he allegedly started banging on windows and doors. Labyad would then have felt threatened. According to the contractor, family members of Labyad would then have appeared at the villa, after which there were blows and threats with a firearm. The police who arrived at the scene made no arrests and both the contractor and Labyad eventually made a report.