Erik ten Hag absolutely does not agree with recent statements by Kenneth Perez about the purchase of Sean Klaiber. The football analyst found it incomprehensible that Ajax pays a lot of money for ‘a simple back with a defective technique’, referring to the transfer fee of five million euros. “It just surprises me that you don’t have a better level at home and that you have to spend so much money. There are more right backs in the world, right? I just expected that you don’t have to make it and that you have that in the youth or at Jong Ajax. It surprises me very much, ”said the Danish former football player.

Ten Hag was confronted with Perez’s statements during a press conference on Thursday evening. “Then he has done very poorly if that is his opinion. Noussair Mazraoui, Sergiño Dest… You can’t let players move up that fast. They are two footballers who played excellently at the highest level, the Champions League. Everyone involved in the youth academy, Young Ajax and Ajax’s first has done an excellent job. ”

Sean Klaiber: ‘It’s never smart to say that in the media’

Ten Hag would have preferred to keep Dest, but eventually Ajax loses the right back in the final week of the summer transfer market. “I put a lot of effort in January to keep Dest, he insisted on leaving. Then you are talking to each other. You know something could happen in the next transfer window. Being so close to the deadline is annoying. Then you have only six defenders, which is annoying timing. But such a process is difficult to stop. He was also not assured of a basic place. ”

“And then sporting and financial matters come together. It’s an awful lot of money. That creates pride. Hakim Ziyech, Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Kasper Dolberg ”, Ten Hag summed up. “We have sold an incredible amount. Half a team. You always want to keep these types of players with the club longer to take the next steps. ” Ten Hag made the switch from FC Utrecht to Ajax as a trainer and that is seen as a controversial move in the Dom City. The trainer has no advice for Klaiber. “You have to deal with that. There is always criticism. You have to be imperturbable under it. It’s unimportant. ”

“It’s a side issue. You have to focus on playing football. Whether the transfer fee gives extra pressure? No, it is a market price. It happens more in today’s football. ” Klaiber will be in the match selection for the game with FC Groningen this weekend. Ten Hag did not say whether the brand new purchase will actually play out. ”