No handshake, no app. Trainer Alfred Schreuder has had no contact with the footballer after the sensational transfer of Daley Blind from Ajax to Bayern Munich. “No, I haven’t seen him again,” said Schreuder this afternoon at the club’s press conference ahead of Sunday’s league game against NEC.
Blind went on a training camp to Qatar with his new club today. Earlier he was briefly at the training complex to say goodbye to his colleagues. He did not shake Schreuder’s hand, although the trainer said that he had ‘a normal relationship’ with Blind. “Daley has only been here for a short time and we have other things to do. We are in meetings a lot. It is great that Daley can go to Bayern. That is one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
At the press conference, the trainer received many questions about Blind’s retreat through the side door. “I made different choices and I think that has speeded up the process a bit.” According to the Ajax coach, Schreuder would not have wished him success for the World Cup. “I wished everyone success for the World Cup after Emmen. Whom I text with, that’s something for me. After Emmen I had no contact with Daley. Not even after a sentence transfer, no.”
Opposite the defender’s departure is the arrival of the Argentinian goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. Although according to Ajax the deal has not yet been officially concluded, according to Schreuder the transfer is in the final phase. “We are working on strengthening the team. He is one of them. It is logical that if you get him, he will also become the first keeper.” The chance that Rulli is already under the bar in Nijmegen is extremely small. Schreuder: “It seems that that is too tight.”
No Hakim Ziyech
Due to the name of Hakim Ziyech as a possible reinforcement, a stripe. “It has a price tag,” said Schreuder. “Our priority is not in the front. The rearguard is quite thin.” Because in addition to the departed Blind, Ahmetcan Kaplan is also not available. He has an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament and is therefore out for a long time.
The Ajax selection is also struggling with a number of sick people this week. Steven Berghuis has been missing from the training field for the past four days, while Kenneth Taylor returned for the first time today. According to Schreuder, there was another player who signed out this morning, but he did not want to reveal that name.
Nevertheless, the trainer is optimistic about the restart of the competition. Ajax ended part one in a minor way, but the training sessions give Schreuder enough to hold onto that the way up can be started. “I missed certain energy in the team and that has to come back. We are all working on that. There is a fresh group that wants to make things right. We have to make sure that we play a good match against NEC and three getting points.”
NEC – Ajax starts on Sunday at 2.30 pm.