Europa League
Van der Gijp praises Ajax backline with Ter Stegen and Blind
Experienced backline strengthens Ajax
Van der Gijp praised the experienced back line that Ajax will soon have. He named Marc‑André Ter Stegen, Daley Blind, Julian Brandt and Tolu Arokodare as key players. According to him they form a solid foundation for the team. The German goalkeeper, the Dutch defender, the German midfielder and the young striker complement each other perfectly.
The analyst also stated that the club can excellently supplement these stars with young talents from its own academy. He emphasized that homegrown players must enrich the squad. He pointed to recent debuts of youth players who already made an impression in the Eredivisie. Thus he sees a balance between experience and youth.
Ajax recorded its first Conference League victory on Thursday, after the team had lost 2‑1 to Hajduk Split a week earlier. The win gave the fans a feeling of relief after the disappointment against the Croatian opponent. Van der Gijp nevertheless could appreciate Ajax's play. He described the first half as “really very enjoyable football”.
Young talent and future plans
Van der Gijp was particularly impressed by substitute Ouazane, who from the left flank let a hard shot fly under the crossbar. He described it as a fantastic strike and joked that a goalkeeper must have it. He then said: “If you have a player like that, as a coach you are obliged to develop him so that by the end of the year someone offers €45 million.” The shot came from the edge of the penalty area and hit the underside of the crossbar, causing the ball to rebound back into play.
The striker Tolu Arokodare found the net again against Atalanta, which Van der Gijp called a positive sign. When Johan Derksen asked why the forward failed in England, Van der Gijp referred to his top performances at Racing Genk and the move to Wolverhampton Wanderers. He argued that the player received two chances in a month at a relegation‑bound club, which in his view is insufficient. “I don’t think he is bad,” he concluded.
With a mix of international experience and emerging youth potential, Ajax appears ready to realise its European ambitions. Van der Gijp believes that the club, supported by the analysis, has a solid foundation for the rest of the season. The upcoming group matches in the Conference League will test the quality of this combination.