The Ajax wonderkids
who can kill Manchester
United’s Europa League
dream
Manchester United may be favourites to win Wednesday’s
Europa League final, but this latest generation of
youngsters coming through at Ajax have shown they
cannot be underestimated.
While the Amsterdam giants may no longer be as far
ahead in terms of youth development as they once were
due to other clubs around Europe catching up, this may be
one of the most exciting crop of academy products to
make an impact at the club for some time.
Ajax notably won the 1995 Champions League final
against favourites AC Milan with a side filled with young
players who’d go on to become some of the best players
in the world, with Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids,
Marc Overmars and match-winning substitute Patrick
Kluivert on the team sheet that day.
While this is hardly the Champions League final, Ajax
have the chance to lift a major European trophy again
tonight, so which members of this squad are the ones
United will have to look out for as they bid to avoid an
upset in Stockholm?
Kasper Dolberg
Probably the pick of the bunch, 19-year-old Danish striker
Kasper Dolberg is Ajax’s top scorer this season with
22 goals in all competitions, including six in the Europa
League.
Unsurprisingly, the teenager’s superb form in front of goal
has already seen him linked with top clubs around Europe,
including tomorrow’s opponents United – all the more reason
for them to keep a close eye on him throughout the match.
A talented goalkeeper who’s done well to quickly adapt to
being Ajax’s number one since Jasper Cillessen’s sale to
Barcelona, 21-year-old Cameroon international Andre
Onana will be looking to thwart United’s suspect attack.
Given the Red Devils’ struggles in breaking teams down
for so much of this season, Onana may just fancy his
chances of frustrating them again in this big game.
Bertrand Traore
On loan from Chelsea, Bertrand Traore will have added
motivation to hurt United in this final, and the 21-year-old
forward has shown his talent in this competition with four
goals so far.
Usually starting wide right of a front three, Traore has the
pace, skill and eye for goal to trouble Jose Mourinho if
he doesn’t get his back four right, which has often been
the case this season.
Jairo Riedewald
A 20-year-old defender who’s already won himself three senior
caps for the Netherlands, Jairo Riedewald hasn’t always
been a regular starter for Peter Bosz’s side, but is a versatile
and technically gifted prospect.
Capable of playing either left-back or centre-back, Riedewald
will be hoping to make some impact in tomorrow’s final.
Justin Kluivert
The son of legendary Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert, 18-year-old
Justin is still in and out of this Ajax side, but is a tricky winger
who could do some damage from the bench in Stockholm.
Basing his game on Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo,
Kluivert Jr. is clearly ambitious, and will not be short of
confidence that he can decide this game and make a
name for himself in the way his father did the ’95 final.
Davinson Sanchez
A strong defender, 20-year-old Colombian Davinson Sanchez
will certainly face one of his biggest tests against the likes
of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial on Wednesday,
but he looks a player with the talent to do a good job.
Promoted to the first-team at the start of this season,
Sanchez hasn’t let his club down, and has even contributed
six goals from the back in all competitions.
Daley Sinkgraven
An attack-minded left-back, Daley Sinkgraven will be a threat
to United’s right-hand side and is a relatively experienced
member of this squad despite being only 21.
The Netherlands Under-21 international has been a
first-team regular for Ajax for the last three seasons,
and also played 38 games for previous club Heerenveen
before that.
(Metro, UK)
No comments:
Post a Comment