The Ajax coach, Erik ten hag, whose team has eleven casualties from COVID-19 a day before the Champions League game against Midtjylland, said this Monday that some of its players have not been called up because regulations in Denmark regarding coronavirus are stricter than in the Netherlands.
“A number of footballers are allowed to play in the Netherlands, but not in Denmark. I don't know the regulations well, but They have not been allowed to come here even though they have played with us and elsewhere. That's a bit strange, “said the coach at the press conference prior to the game against Midtjylland.
“It is good that there are measures that ensure the health of all, but it cannot be that there are differences between countries. We play in only one competition, isn't this a distortion? it is this fair play? “Ten Hag wondered.
Although he did not go into more detail, he said that the difference in standards to which he referred “has something to do with the tests” and assured that the infected footballers on his team “are healthy and so far they have no symptoms.”
The Amesterdam club has not made public which eleven players have tested positive, but on the list of summoned who have traveled to Denmark this Monday missing usual headlines such as forward Dusan Tadic, midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Davy Klaassen or goalkeepers André Onana and Maarten Stekelenburg.
The club has tested them again and, If they test negative this Tuesday, I could summon them at the last minute for the Denmark match. It could be the case of Onana, since COVID-19 already passed in August and gave a false positive with the Cameroon team, at the beginning of October, which forced him to abandon the call.
If Onana can't travel The only goalkeeper called up to date, Kjell Scherpen, will make his debut in the first team, who regularly plays in the second division with Ajax B.
Beyond the casualties, Ten Hag said that they will play the Champions League match with the available squad members. “They are good players, they may have to be in a different position than usual, but they are still good,” he said.
Regarding Midtjylland, bottom of group D, he said that “it's a tough team because their players are tough and they are very motivated. “
The coach refused to make any comparisons between the Danish team and Getafe, which last season eliminated Ajax in the Europa League. “It is certainly not like Getafe, that way of playing was far from being fair play“said Ten Hag.