Pierre van Hooijdonk has a very painful gift for Rafael van der Vaart. During the live broadcast of Studio Football the former striker gives a red lantern to his colleague because of Ajax’s position in the rankings. Van der Vaart can laugh about it, but indicates that he seriously fears relegation.
The Amsterdam team took the lead twice in the Philips Stadium in the lost match against PSV on Sunday, but ultimately lost: 5-2. The defeat makes Ajax the new bottom in the Eredivisie, although the club still has two games left.
Rafael van der Vaart receives a red lantern as a gift
“We talked about it last week,” Van Hooijdonk begins his accompanying story. “It could just happen that Ajax ends up at the bottom. I thought: I feel bad for you Rafso I have a little something for you.”
After opening the package, a smile appears on Van der Vaart’s face, while the audience also comes with loud applause. Yet Van der Vaart says in a serious tone that enforcement should not be taken too lightly.
“Everyone takes it easy, because I have also experienced it with HSV. If you stay in that spot… It’s not that easy to beat Volendam or RKC at home. You should not underestimate that situation.”
“They are probably not going to be relegated, but take it seriously. That is really my advice to Ajax players. I am worried, because Ajax is eighteenth. And that is a big problem.”
“I must honestly say that Ajax’s first half made me happy today,” Van der Vaart concludes. “The decline was logical in the second half.”