Ajax still without Rensch, Bergwijn fit enough to start in Classic | Football

Apr 04, 2023 at 10:37 Update: 5 minutes ago

Ajax will have to do without Devyne Rensch in the semifinals of the TOTO KNVB Cup on Wednesday. The right back did not recover from an injury in time, trainer John Heitinga told the ANP news agency a day before the match. Steven Bergwijn is completely fit and can start in the base.

Twenty-year-old Rensch did not participate against Feyenoord during the Classic (2-3 loss) in the Eredivisie last month and was still missing in the selection against Go Ahead Eagles (0-0) on Sunday.

Heitinga said after the game in Deventer that it would be “a race against the clock” for Rensch to be fit in time for Wednesday’s game. Rensch has been replaced by Jorge Sánchez in recent weeks.

Bergwijn injured his knee in the Classic for more than two weeks. As a result, he also had to sign out of the Dutch national team. On Sunday he came on as a substitute against Go Ahead. “Steven has trained fully, has not received a response and can start,” says Heitinga.

Ajax hopes to give the season some shine with a victory in the Classic. The team from Amsterdam seems to have no chance for the title in the Eredivisie with eight points behind leader Feyenoord. In February, Ajax was already eliminated by Union Berlin in the intermediate round of the Europa League.

According to Ajax coach John Heitinga, Feyenoord is the favorite in the Classic on Wednesday. Photo: Pro Shots

Heitinga sees Feyenoord as a favourite

Last month, in the run-up to the Classic in the Johan Cruijff Arena, Heitinga saw his Ajax as the favorite, but a few weeks later, according to Heitinga, the roles were reversed. “We had won seven times in a row then,” says the interim trainer.

“And we played at home. We felt that support from the public. Now they have an eight point lead over us in the Eredivisie and they perform nationally and internationally. Trainer Arne Slot has done well there.”

Feyenoord-Ajax starts on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The match in De Kuip is led by referee Allard Lindhout. The other semi-final will take place on Tuesday evening between the amateurs of SV Spakenburg and PSV. The final is scheduled for Sunday, April 30.

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