Ajax director Edwin van der Sar explains why they are able to churn out young talents constantly ahead of the Europa League quarter-final with Roma.
The first leg of the Europa League quarter-final kicks off in Amsterdam at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
Click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.
Ajax director Edwin van der Sar explains why they are able to churn out young talents constantly ahead of the Europa League quarter-final with Roma.
The first leg of the Europa League quarter-final kicks off in Amsterdam at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
Click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.
“The history of Ajax has always been to play with 18 or 19-year-olds, so tonight is no different,” former goalkeeper Van Der Sar told Sky Sport Italia.
Andre Onana is suspended, Maarten Stekelenburg injured, so 21-year-old Kjell Scherpen starts in goal this evening.
“We signed him two years ago, he went on loan for a year and learned a great deal. We have faith in him, he played three games for the Dutch Under-21 side in the European Championships.
“Onana is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, Stekelenburg has a lot of experience, but Scherpen is very talented and it’s a great opportunity for him.”
How do Ajax continue to churn out this endless supply of young talents?
“Money is the difference between countries. The top five leagues have considerably more money than in Holland, so we know that players here will have three or four years, then move on.
“We’ve been raising our level too, as we brought in players like Daley Blind, Davy Klaaassen and Devyne Rensch because they had more experience.
“However, in the Eredivisie, you just don’t tend to find players who are 29, 30 or more, they have already moved on.”
Roma legend Francesco Totti famously beat Van Der Sar with a chipped penalty in the Euro 2000 semi-final.
“You can go right, left or centre to score a goal. I think Holland were the better team in the second half, but we made mistakes and it went to penalties. That’s it.”