Jayden Addai was given a starting place in the Premier League for the first time by coach Maarten Martens. The young talent was preferred on the wing against Feyenoord over Mayckel Lahdo, who was not fully fit this week. Despite the 0-1 defeat, Addai enjoyed all its glory. “The audience clapped for me, that’s a great feeling.”
After 62 minutes, Jayden Addai left the field in the Alkmaar stadium to loud applause. The confident 18-year-old attacker regularly caused Feyenoord’s defense problems: “When I come into one-on-one I am at my best. Sometimes I had to hold the ball, which was a bit difficult. But I am convinced that I’m going to improve on that.”
AZ coach Maarten Martens knows Addai from his period as coach of Jong AZ. The coach thought that Addai added a lot to the attacking game: “He was still close to a goal. He is a player who can create a lot. We thought he was ready for a top match and he showed that,” said Martens. Addai agrees with this: “Yesterday he told me that I could play. I informed my family, but otherwise kept it quiet.”
Competition
There is currently a lot of pressure at the forefront for the Alkmaarders. Myron van Brederode and Lahdo were allowed to start in the starting line-up against SC Heerenveen last week, today they were on the bench in favor of Addai and Ruben van Bommel: “Everyone has to be top. Lahdo had some complaints this week, with van Bommel wanting I got more depth in the game, that worked out well,” said Martens, who saw that his team had earned a point: “We had a number of chances, unfortunately we did not get what we deserved.”