Two years ago Ajax managed to turn a 1-2 defeat against Real Madrid and the next round in the Champions League was achieved. The question is whether Erik ten Hag’s team will be able to achieve the same performance on Thursday evening with AS Roma in the Europa League. Valentijn Driessen, football chief of The Telegraph, looks ahead in a video from the newspaper on Wednesday at the chances and the likely line-up of Ajax and even ventures to a prediction: a 1-3 victory for the team from Amsterdam.
Driessen has every confidence in a good outcome for Ajax. “Based on the previous game, I think there are many possibilities to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League,” the journalist assured from Rome. Driessen previously had his doubts because AS Roma could have a few important players in the return, but that seems to be not too bad. Rick Karsdorp seems to be deployable again. “Should we be afraid of Rick Karsdorp”, Driessen openly wondered. “That doesn’t seem like it to me. It is not even a player of the Dutch national team. AS Roma is in the second tier of Serie A. To get scared because Karsdorp is participating, no… I don’t think that is necessary. ”
Maarten Stekelenburg returns under the bar at Ajax. The goalkeeper dropped out at the beginning of this month with knee complaints in the warm-up for the away game against sc Heerenveen. He then also missed the first match against Roma and the away match against RKC Waalwijk. Driessen applauds the return of the routine. “That saves a sip on a drink. Plus that Stekelenburg is used to Rome and AS Roma ”, he referred to the past of the keeper in the Stadio Olimpico. “He can give those guys a bit more than Kjell Scherpen. He stood like a trembling straw to keep in the final game. ”
Ajax does miss André Onana (doping suspension), Devyne Rensch (suspended), Noussair Mazraoui, Daley Blind, Zakaria Labyad (all injured) and Sébastien Haller (not eligible to play). The question marks in the team are mainly around the right back. Erik ten Hag can choose Sean Klaiber, Quinten Timber or he can slide with Jurriën Timber, allowing Perr Schuurs to make his return in the center. Driessen is not a fan of Klaiber. “He has proven throughout this season that he misses the level for this Ajax. I think he’ll take Jurriën Timber to right back and move Edson Álvarez back from midfield to defense. Together with Lisandro Martinez in defense. And then possibly Mohammed Kudus in midfield. I think that would be the ideal move. ”
“With Klaiber you are asking for problems against this AS Roma”, emphasizes Driessen, who would position the returned Brian Brobbey at the point of the attack. “Especially if you have to score twice. Otherwise you will be out. The two Brasilians are not at their best right now, David Neres and Antony. It seems to me that he chooses Dusan Tadic on the left, Brobbey in the striker and then Neres or Antony on the right. You have to score. And then you possibly have Lassina Traoré on the couch. I think that’s the best, ”concludes the football chief The Telegraph. “Ten Hag also played on the left with Tadic in the Champions League. He is almost as valuable there as in the striker.”