Valentijn Driessen believes that Ajax can still use David Neres very well this season. The chief of football of The Telegraph saw the Brazilian come in strong against PEC Zwolle last Saturday. During the season, the Amsterdam club could still need him badly, for example when the game threatens to become substandard.
Driessen saw that Ajax missed a challenge against the club from Overijssel: ‘The challenges lie in a few top matches in the competition. Only, you have to be careful that you don’t slow down too much and that you get hit with it once. That is, of course, likely. We already experienced that last year with FC Twente-home. Then watch out that you don’t drop below a lower limit like Ajax, because it all goes so easily.’
“Ten Hag will have to take measures for that,” Driessen continues. For example, Neres was brought in after the break for Antony. In Driessen’s eyes, it was a successful substitute for the winger: ‘Now you see that you also really need Neres. He was indeed a good substitute.’
Berghuis impresses as ’10’
The performance of Steven Berghuis can also count on compliments from Driessen. Berghuis played as ’10’ in Zwolle due to the absence of the injured Davy Klaassen. Driessen: ‘Of course things sometimes go wrong, but he did want to work for the team. That is where the first goal came from. That was a great run from him, that he’s going around Tadic.’
“As a number ’10’ you have to do that, but normally he doesn’t play there and there are also such players who wait until a moment to get in front of the goal and then make the decision.” According to Driessen, the originally right winger can also be used as a ’10’ against Sporting Portugal in the Champions League next Wednesday: ‘I thought Berghuis played quite well in that place. If Klaassen doesn’t make it to Sporting Portugal, you can put Berghuis there.’
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