Valentijn Driessen thinks it is logical that Ajax has ended up technically with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The former attacker will work closely with trainer Erik ten Hag and technical manager Gerry Hamstra and according to club watcher Mike Verweij it is quite possible that Huntelaar will be Ajax’s director of football affairs from mid-2024. Presenter Wilfred Genee speaks Today Inside of a ‘surprising turn’. Driessen agrees and thinks that Ajax has acquired quality with the former top scorer. After the Huntelaar story, a striking conversation arises about the way Erik ten Hag reacted to the leaked telephone conversations of Quincy Promes, who wanted to stab his cousin to death during an argument.
“I think a good choice”, Driessen opens Monday evening in the talk show, which from now on bears a different name. Genee immediately wants to know why the sports journalist comes to this conclusion. “Because he is a very smart boy. And a lot of knowledge about football. And to let him join the organization for two years, and then take over when he indeed has the qualities. Then he also has the contacts Well, he knows what Ajax stands for, so I actually thought it was a very good choice.” Genee immediately adds: “You say an asset for Ajax.” Driessen endorses the words of the presenter. “Hell yes.”
Johan Derksen has a question for Driessen right away. “Marc Overmars already let him do a little internship?” Driessen agrees with his table companion and also points out that Huntelaar has spent some time with the supervisory board and the management of Ajax. “Is he going to walk everywhere?” Genee asks immediately. “No, he just looked at what was best. He actually wanted to become a commissioner, because then he can continue playing football. But no, it will be technical advisors, so to speak.” Driessen adds that Erik ten Hag was informed about Huntelaar’s appointment and therefore had no say in it.
“But I think that’s very normal,” Derksen takes over the conversation. “This is a long-term position and Erik ten Hag is of course a passer-by.” Driessen immediately draws a conclusion regarding the future of the trainer in Amsterdam. “I think that means that Ten Hag will leave Ajax at the end of the season.” René van der Gijp seizes the opportunity to complain about the Ajax coach. “Erik ten Hag’s interview was also very bad, eh. Godsiemijne again.” Genee thinks that Van der Gijp is referring to Ten Hag’s interview about Promes, in which he said he was “deeply saddened” about the whole situation. The Spartak Moscow attacker has confessed that he wanted to stab his cousin to death in 2020. In addition, Promes is suspected of drug trafficking and participation in a criminal organization.
Erik ten Hag about the situation surrounding Quincy Promes: “I am deeply saddened.” pic.twitter.com/Uyf310R6sE
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) March 11, 2022
“About Promes, how bad that was,” Van der Gijp continues. “How can you say that?” said a surprised Genee. “He said it came from a source (the NOS, ed.), but that of course makes no sense,” said the shocked Van der Gijp. The Telegraph reported Friday that Promes was being wiretapped because he is suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and participation in a criminal organization. At both ESPN as the NOS After the Ajax won 2-3 away match against Cambuur, Ten Hag was asked about the situation around Promes. “It means a lot to me, it is an extremely sad matter,” Ten Hag said to the newspaper NOS† “That he got involved in that. It is with the media, but it is now with the judge…”
The reporter of the NOS interrupted Ten Hag by stating that ‘it does not just happen that your phone is tapped’. “Are you aware of that? This is what the NOS says, but I am waiting for the judge’s verdict,” Ten Hag responded. Incidentally, the telephone conversations were not brought out by the NOS, but by Nieuwsuur. “I don’t know how the NOS knows. I don’t think the NOS is the judiciary,” the Ajax coach emphasized.
“Bad, very bad”, Van der Gijp describes Ten Hag’s interview about Promes. “I thought this was the old-fashioned Erik ten Hag again,” adds Driessen. “His presentation remains his weakest point”, Derksen then puts his finger on the sore spot with the Ajax coach. “He is not a pretty figurehead, he would be unsuitable as a national coach.” Driessen immediately makes a comment: “I thought he did well with Marc Overmars, he probably had prepared that. Perhaps he was not prepared for this question now. Which of course you should have been prepared for.”