Rafael van der Vaart and Arno Vermeulen had a fierce discussion in the program on Sunday evening Studio Football of the NOS. As a result of the 1-2 defeat against AZ, Vermeulen believes that Ajax is ‘vulnerable’. Van der Vaart, on the other hand, states that the team from Amsterdam can sometimes lose a competition match and says that they are ‘not awake at all’.
“A lot went wrong, it was mediocre. AZ played very compact and tried to become dangerous in the counter, which also succeeded a number of times. At Ajax the ball tempo was not good, it was syrupy. After the 1-1 they had two or three good chances, but after the 1-2 it was all over. No, not a good day for Ajax”, Van der Vaart starts in the talk show about the duel between Ajax and AZ. The former midfielder is not particularly pleased with AZ’s concept of the game.
“I was really annoyed by AZ in the first half. Also because I am an Ajax player. But then I think: you can play football so well and you’re going to do it anyway. They’re winning now. Not really deserved, but you do have that feeling,” says Van der Vaart. Vermeulen wonders whether AZ ‘should open things up and lose 3-0’. Van der Vaart: “I want to develop my team, I have a good football team. So I also want to play football a bit myself and then I don’t feel like long strokes, home quickly. Of course Pavlidis once held a ball and gave it to him. But if Ajax is just more in shape, it will simply be 2-0.
“AZ is hardly a sub-topper this year and they play in the ArenA against a team that has taken eighteen points in the Champions League,” Vermeulen responds. “They made a tactical adjustment, didn’t give up a chance in the first half, were very clear on the ball and scored two goals in the ArenA. Then you just did it right. Ajax is vulnerable, they have drawn against FC Twente, Heracles Almelo and Go Ahead Eagles. Lost to FC Utrecht and AZ. That’s something to think about.”
“This is the second time that Arno thinks I have a weak story,” Van der Vaart continues. The two previously disagreed about the title chances for Feyenoord. “He thinks we should worry about Ajax winning all the Champions League matches. Well, then you might as well lose a league match. We in Amsterdam really don’t lose sleep over that. You can worry, but I don’t. You still think Feyenoord will be champions.”
“No, hey, hey. I didn’t say they would be champions, but that they are champions. Why couldn’t you keep it up for a whole season?”, says Vermeulen. He then addresses Van der Vaart: “Is there something structural going on at Ajax in the Eredivisie? These are results that you do not expect.”