Henk Spaan expressly hopes for a longer stay at Ajax. The Danish defender moved to the Dutch record champion for a few million euros last summer, but has not been without controversy for a moment since. Gaaei may be one of the many summer signings who can leave after this season, but Spaan hopes that Ajax will give him another chance.
Ajax paid 4.5 million euros for the arrival of Gaaei. The Dane had to compete with Devyne Rensch in Amsterdam, but would ultimately play much more than expected. Not always successful, to say the least. For example, in the home match against Feyenoord in September, Gaaei was taken off halfway through the first half by then coach Maurice Steijn and also during a visit to AZ he was replaced by John van ‘t Schip before the half-time signal. Gaaei was not happy and he needed a few days to get over those mental ticks.
Article continues below video
The Dane succeeded in that. Although there is still plenty to criticize about him, he has been one of the few bright spots at Ajax in recent weeks. Spaan also saw Gaaei come on well in the home match against Excelsior last Wednesday. “In the last fifteen minutes the hope for a point became palpable. It was noticeable in the encouragement, in the slowly deflating lungs of Excelsior, in the increasingly faster throw-in of Hato, in the sprints of Gaaei and in the passing of Van den Boomen. Ajax simply had more fitness with the ten of them than the eleven of Excelsior. Once again I saw that Gaaei must stay”Spaan writes in his column Spaan gives points in Het Parool.
According to the columnist, Gaaei has a ‘drive’ that Ajax players do not acquire ‘from home’. “The boy came in well, with the cross to Taylor’s head as the highlight”, that’s what it sounds like. If Spaan has his way, Gaaei will also compete with Rensch next season. The latter has also been regularly the target of criticism this season, but Spaan now sees him performing a lot better than a few months ago. “I read something about the ‘block’ of Ramaj, Hato, Taylor and Brobbey that should become the foundation of the new Ajax, but as far as I’m concerned, Rensch is part of that. He is playing much better than six months ago”, said Spaan. Rensch scored the opening goal against Excelsior and set up Chuba Akpom’s late equalizer.
➡️ You may also find this article interesting
-
