Ter Stegen after Ajax draw: Journalist likens him to Tussauds

In the Johan‑Cruyff‑Arena, after the 1‑1 between Ajax Amsterdam and NEC Nijmegen, the loud whistling of dissatisfied supporters could be heard, while coach Michel answered an unusual question about goalkeeper Marc‑Andre ter Stegen during the press conference.

Short appearance and critical voices

The 34‑year‑old ter Stegen, who arrived at Ajax on loan from FC Barcelona in the summer, kept the ball at his feet for a long time after a play, without playing it further. This passivity triggered sharp reactions from the fans in Amsterdam, who answered the incident with whistles.

Journalist draws museum comparison

A journalist asked about the sluggish build‑up and remarked: “Your goalkeeper stood there for a long time with the ball at his feet and didn’t move. At some point it felt like being in a museum of this city – Madame Tussauds.” The comparison immediately attracted attention.

Coach Michel, 50, rejected the statement: “I do not agree that he is a statue,” he said, emphasizing that in some situations the ball has to be held longer to provoke the opponent’s movements.

Michel added that it is difficult for a free man to create such situations, and that the audience seemed nervous. He called for solving such game situations differently in the future.

Match progress and league standing

Ajax took the lead early through Tolu Arokodare in the seventh minute, but shortly after Tjaronn Chery equalised with a penalty in the 19th minute. Despite 15 shots, the victory did not come, so Amsterdam, after the draw, remains in fifth place, five points behind league leaders Feyenoord.

In his season so far for Ajax, ter Stegen has conceded 14 goals in nine league matches and has kept a clean sheet in two games. On the international stage, he was appointed by national team coach Jürgen Klopp as the provisional number‑one goalkeeper of the German national team and played the last international match in Amsterdam against the Netherlands (1‑1).