During Ajax’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Thursday evening, 21-year-old Ahmetcan Kaplan stood out. Since its debut against AZ, Ajax has improved defensively, according to ESPN analysts after the goalless match. “The certainty he exudes on the ball, in the duels and in the orientation is on a completely different level than that of Sutalo,” Kenneth Perez, Karim El Ahmadi and Kees Kwakman agree.
Kaplan’s defensive qualities helped ensure that Aston Villa only managed 0.23 expected goals came, the lowest number of a club against Ajax since the cup match with FC Den Bosch in January 2023. “Kaplan has really proven to be a reinforcement,” says Kwakman with conviction. “I know, he has only been in the starting line-up twice, but what Kaplan brings is a real improvement compared to Sutalo.”
Josip Sutalo was brought in for more than twenty million euros last summer. The Croatian international has not yet convinced, according to Perez and Kwakman. “The greatest asset of a defender is orientation, which Sutalo does not have at all. Kaplan does not feel anything about the pressure that a central defender sometimes gets on the ball. That really makes a world of difference. He also holds his own in the duels.” , the ESPN analyst concludes about the Turkish man-marker.
Ajax was especially strong against Villa without the ball
Last weekend, Ajax kept a clean sheet against FC Utrecht in an official match for the last 99 days and on Thursday evening, keeper Diant Ramaj kept his goal clean again. “I didn’t think it was a boring game at all,” said Perez, in contrast to Kees Kwakman. “I found it very interesting, also because you are curious how Ajax fares against England’s number four. Ultimately, I think Ajax played very well grouped. They did really well, especially without the ball.”
Marciano Vink, who was present in the Johan Cruijff Arena on Thursday evening, was also positive. “Ajax just played very disciplined. They didn’t give Aston Villa a chance to get into their game and that is worth something. Ajax played really professionally tonight, that’s how you have to show up. They can really be satisfied no matter how strange it may sound after a 0-0 draw.”