Friday, April 30, 2021 at 8:31 PM• Rian Rosendaal

Wim Kieft is positive about Erik ten Hag, who this Friday extended his contract with Ajax until the summer of 2023. The analyst thinks that the trainer is doing a good job in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, with an important role for director of football affairs Marc. Overmars. Staying with Ajax is more sensible than switching to Tottenham Hotspur now, Kieft believes.

“With the upcoming championship of Ajax you have to conclude that trainer Erik ten Hag has managed everything well this season. His contract extension is therefore quite understandable”, Kieft wrote in his weekly column on Friday. The Telegraph. The former attacker thinks that the Ajax coach feels like a fish in the water with the leader in the Eredivisie. “He will have a good time, get a free hand from director of football affairs Marc Overmars and be able to give the selection its own face. Then you can move to Tottenham Hotspur, but that is not a club that is structurally in the top four. the Premier League nestles. “

Kieft understands that it is easier for Ten Hag to work at Ajax than at clubs where the budget is a lot less and where millions cannot be spent. “But as a coach of Ajax you have to become champion, win the cup, get far in Europe and preferably winter in the Champions League.” In addition, according to Kieft there was enough ‘to manage’ for Ten Hag. Hakim Ziyech and Donny van de Beek left and a good striker was missing in the first half of the season, so that Ajax was eliminated by Atalanta in the Champions League. André Onana took a wrong pee, Quincy Promes was suspected of being involved in a stabbing and Sébastien Haller was Due to a forgotten check mark not entitled to play in the Europa League. And finally Daley Blind fell away as a football brain from the back “, the problems for the coach of Ajax are pointed out.

Ten Hag has grown considerably as a trainer since his entry at Ajax in January 2018, Kieft adds as a compliment. “Ten Hag has been able to manage well, where he seemed rather confused in his first years. He has grown in his charisma, says almost no more stupid things and has always remained calm.” According to Kieft, Ten Hag opted for the ‘South American variant’ in football. “Ultimately, the performances this season are quite normal for Ajax when you see how the club is doing and Ten Hag cannot be blamed for much.”