Ajax coach Erik ten Hag saw his internationals trickle in alternately and with a smile. Still, he considers the international break for many of his players a lost period, he explained after the 0-2 win at Heerenveen and three days before the Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund.
,,I do not think so. It is best for players to stay in their rhythm,” said Ten Hag when asked whether he sees it as an advantage that many boys did not or little in action during the international match, and then split his selection into three imaginary groups.
,,You have a group that plays everything in the international match. That’s perfect, although they are also overloaded, especially when playing three international matches. Then you have a group that plays little or no for their country. They are underloaded. And finally, there is a group that is left behind. It is small, but it gets little resistance during training.”
,,That’s why I think this is a lost period for many players. And that is why it is also important that you win, can scale up and players get back into their rhythm,” concluded the coach, who also explained why the Argentinian Lisandro Martinez was the only one who made it to Heerenveen.
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,,That doesn’t necessarily have to do with the fact that he was the only one not to play a minute in the international match. I have not seen Antony and Nicolás Tagliafico. Edson Álvarez is, but he indicated that he is not yet one hundred percent fit. Martinez felt ready for it.”
Ajax will face Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. The Germans saw top striker Erling Haaland return on Saturday after an injury and immediately score twice. ,,Haaland is an extraordinary player. My players are looking forward to measuring themselves against a player like him. Not only the players, but we as a team too,” said Ten Hag. ,,Would I prefer that he would be injured a little longer? No, we’re glad he’s here. We want to measure ourselves against the best.”
Response Davy Klaassen
Davy Klaassen also reacted after the game. In front of the ESPN cameras, the midfielder said: ,,We deserved to win. It is never easy in Heerenveen, not even today. It went well in the first half. If we are purer, we are more often alone in front of the keeper. With a 0-1 lead there can always be a goal. We had trouble with their fierceness after the break, but after the 0-2 it was over.”
He also looked ahead to the clash with Borussia Dortmund: ,,That will be a very different match, but if you win you always go to the next game with a good feeling.” On Tuesday, Antony will probably return to the base. Will Steven Berghuis then move to the spot of the shadow striker or will Klaassen remain? “The coach will have to make choices.”
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