Despite Ajax’s 5-0 win against sc Heerenveen, Davy Klaassen walked around with mixed feelings on Saturday evening. The midfielder is not very happy with his reserve role with the leader from Amsterdam. Klaassen did receive a basic place against the Frisians from Alfred Schreuder, who had Steven Berghuis start on the bench. Klaassen promptly gave his calling card by producing the opening goal for the 23rd time on behalf of the Amsterdam club.
Klaassen, who has stiff competition from Kenneth Taylor in midfield on the left, took his place in the selection of Ajax afterwards. “It is not easy, of course not”, it sounded at the press conference in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. “Everyone wants to play and always as much as possible. If the trainer then chooses other players, that is not fun. I am of course not happy with that,” said Klaassen, who usually plays the Ajax coach in midfield for Berghuis. Taylor and Edson see Álvarez choose.
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The Ajax striker also spoke about his reserve role from last week in the Champions League and Eredivisie.
Despite the status of reserve player, Klaassen has never seriously considered leaving Ajax in the interim. “No, not really,” emphasized the accurate midfielder. “With the World Cup approaching, I don’t think that is really wise either. There are times when you think: gosh Mina, I want to play more, I want to be important. But these are big choices, you should not make them on emotion .” Klaassen already spoke to Schreuder about his role within the selection. “Of course you talk about that every now and then. We rotate a lot, so you have to be there when you get the chance.”
Klaassen started on the bench in Ajax’s first four matches of this season in the Eredivisie. Against SC Cambuur (4-0) last week, Schreuder had a basic place in store for him. In the Champions League match with Rangers (4-0), however, Klaassen was again referred to the bench. He made his minutes as a substitute last Wednesday in the final phase.