Ghana's Mohammed Kudus was the star player in Ajax's 4-0 win against Rangers in the Uefa Champions League.
The former FC Nordsjaelland midfielder started in a more advance role on Wednesday. He scored and grabbed an assist for the Dutch giants.
Dutch journalist Bart Veenstra discussed the result and Mohammed Kudus' performance against the Scottish giants.
Ajax was a class better than Rangers on Wednesday evening
"I think more than a class. I think Ajax was two or three classes better. Ajax was more dynamic and the team had much more spirit and energy. Rangers didn't really have a chance except for the disallowed goal. Ajax was non-stop at the ball and/or in the attack. If Ajax had given more gas after the break, it might have been 6-0 or 7-0,"
Alfred Schreuder chose Mohammed Kudus instead of Brian Brobbey in the base against Rangers. What did you think of that choice?
"At first you're going to wonder why he does that. Does he want an extra man in midfield, because Rangers also often play like that? In his interview, Schreuder indicated in advance that this was not the case and that he mainly opted for Kudus' prowess, drive and dynamism. And that's actually all happened. The choice for Kudus has therefore worked out well,"
"Then it is strange that you now ignore Brobbey, because Brobbey has done well in recent matches, but - as Schreuder has stated several times – Ajax has more than eleven basic players. I think there are about sixteen players at Ajax who are basic worthy. The season is also long, so I think it's good to look closely at who is fit and useful against the next opponent. For example, it may be that Brobbey is more useful in the Eredivisie, while Kudus is more useful in the Champions League. We also saw that with Tadic in the 2018/19 season and I think Kudus can fulfill that role as well,"
Who was your Ajax player of the match against Rangers?
"After the match I saw him walking with a trophy: Mohammed Kudus. He was the most surprising name in the lineup, but I think he more than proved it. He is just good enough for Ajax's base and it was a real pleasure to play Kudus. He's not a real striker like Brobbey is, he roams more. But he is very dynamic, which also creates more dynamics in the whole team. He is very strong on the ball, is difficult to get off the ball, he always knows how to play his way out in the small spaces and he also has a passing action at home. And also the goal he scores: the assumption, getting away from the opponent and then the sprint. From the angle from which he shoots it: it seems almost impossible, but he gets the ball in,"