Theo Janssen would not field Steven Berghuis on Tuesday at Ajax against Borussia Dortmund. In recent months, the the Dutch international impressed as number ten with the team from Amsterdam and was accurate in that position in the Champions League against Sporting Portugal and Besiktas. When asked about his favorite Ajax line-up against Dortmund, Janssen has Davy Klaassen return as an attacking midfielder, while the right winger position is filled by Antony.
Klaassen was missing in the first two group matches of the Champions League due to a groin injury that he had left over from the international match with the Dutch national team. Berghuis took over his role as an attacking midfielder and did it properly. In the won games against Sporting (1-5) and Besiktas (2-0) Berghuis was of great value with a total of two goals and an assist.
On September 25, Klaassen returned to the match selection at Ajax against FC Groningen (3-0 win). Erik ten Hag then still preferred Berghuis in the role of attacking midfielder and the division of roles was also the same against Besiktas and FC Utrecht (0-1 loss). Last Saturday in the 0-2 away game against sc Heerenveen, Klaassen returned to his position, while Berghuis played as a right winger in Friesland. This was mainly due to the absence of Antony and Edson Álvarez, who returned too late from South America due to international obligations.
Next Tuesday Ajax awaits the confrontation with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Janssen would prefer Klaassen over Berghuis in that game. “I think you should just go back to the familiar,” he said on Sunday evening at Studio Football. He emphasizes that, according to him, ‘balance in midfield’ is important against the German top club. Presenter Sjoerd van Ramshorst notes that Janssen has removed Berghuis from the base. “Yes, but Antony in the form he has”, Janssen responds when he is interrupted by Van Ramshorst.
“Berghuis ‘on 10’ is possible in the Dutch competition, but in a European context I think Klaassen is better.”
At sometime, @rafvdvaart? “I think Rafael threw his TV out the window.” #StudioFootball pic.twitter.com/RdFnSn4VOh
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“And Berghuis on ten then?”, said the presenter. “In the Dutch league certainly, do it”, says the former Ajax player. “There he is a really good player out of ten. But in a European context I think Klaassen is better, also from a defensive point of view. Klaassen of course has his runs and Berghuis is still looking for a lot. He swerves a lot to the side when he plays on ten. He often comes to play soccer with Antony. I would rather see a real ten.”
Van Ramshorst: “I think Rafael has now thrown his TV out the window”, the presenter referred to Rafael van der Vaart, usually a table guest at the football talk show, but not part of the party on Sunday evening. In recent weeks, the former international has said that he is impressed by Berghuis, also in his role as an attacking midfielder. “Because of the fact that he opts for the balance?”, Pierre van Hooijdonk then wondered aloud, laughing. The match between Ajax and Borussia Dortmund in the Johan Cruijff ArenA starts on Tuesday evening at 9 p.m.
Ajax line-up against Borussia Dortmund according to Theo Janssen: feather; Mazraoui, Timber, Martinez, Blind; Alvarez, Klaassen, Gravenberch; Anthony, Haller, Tadic.