Ajax Captain Davy Klaassen Speaks Out: 'PEC Zwolle is Much Better Than Vojvodina and Shelbourne'

Davy Klaassen, the captain of the Ajax football team, has spoken out about the team's performance in their opening Eredivisie match of the season against PEC Zwolle. In an interview with ESPN, Klaassen expressed his disappointment with the team's showing, admitting that they had not played to their usual standard. The team had struggled to break down the PEC Zwolle defense, but eventually secured a hard-fought 0-2 victory thanks to late goals from Jorthy Mokio and Julian Brandt.

'Today, we weren't as good as we wanted to be,' Klaassen began, speaking candidly about the team's performance. 'Not enough surprise in our game. Today, like last week, we got out of it. But it wasn't as we wanted it to be.' Klaassen acknowledged that the red card given to Sherell Floranus had helped the team to find a way past the PEC Zwolle defense, but admitted that the team's overall play had been inferior to what they were capable of.

Klaassen was also critical of the PEC Zwolle team, suggesting that they were a step above the teams that Ajax had faced in the Europa Conference League qualifiers, Vojvodina and Shelbourne FC. 'If I compare with Vojvodina and Shelbourne, PEC Zwolle is simply much better,' he stated bluntly. This was a significant admission, given that Ajax had already overcome these teams in the competition.

The match against PEC Zwolle was a far cry from the dominant performance that Ajax had put in against Shelbourne FC in the first leg of their Europa Conference League tie. In the earlier match, Ajax had created numerous scoring opportunities but had struggled to find the back of the net. Klaassen attributed the difference in fortunes to the absence of midfielder Mika Godts, who had been forced out through injury. 'He missed the depth on the pitch. We also talked about it at halftime, about the need to put more pressure on their last line through our calls. We did it better in the second half.'

Klaassen's comments have raised eyebrows in the Ajax camp, given the team's expectations of themselves. The team had been expected to dominate the Eredivisie this season, but their opening match against PEC Zwolle has left some questions unanswered. However, with a vital match against Shelbourne FC looming in the Europa Conference League, Klaassen remains confident that the team can overcome their recent struggles and secure a vital win.

As the team prepares to face Shelbourne FC in the Europa Conference League tie, Klaassen's comments have provided a glimpse into the team's mindset. The captain's candid assessment of the team's performance will not go unnoticed, and may well galvanize the team ahead of their next match. One thing is certain - with a strong performance from the team, they can look to put their recent struggles behind them and focus on the task at hand.

The Eredivisie campaign has only just begun, but already Ajax are facing a tough test of their resolve. Will they be able to bounce back from their opening match against PEC Zwolle and establish themselves as one of the top teams in the competition? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain - the Ajax team will be focused on giving their all and producing the type of performance that their fans expect from them.

The team's recent struggles have been well-documented, and Klaassen's comments provide a poignant reminder of the need for improvement. With a strong performance against Shelbourne FC, Ajax can begin to silence their critics and show the football world what they are capable of.