Steven Berghuis has thanked Daley Blind for the advice that led to his goal in AFC Ajax's 0-4 victory at Telstar last Sunday. The experienced forward revealed this in a post-match interview with ESPN, as reported by FCUpdate.
Berghuis was influential in Velsen-Zouth. He provided the assist for Davy Klaassen's opening goal from a corner in the first half. Shortly after the break, he scored the 0-2 himself. Later, he was also involved in the 0-3 goal by Tolu Arokodare. The winger initially threatened to shoot with his favored left foot but opted for a feint at the last moment.
What did Blind say to Berghuis?
Daley Blind approached Berghuis after the previous match against Sion with specific advice. "He said: you should do that feint more often, because they expect you to go left," Berghuis revealed to the cameras. "Against Sion, I went inside two or three times. So I have to thank Daley for this goal."
Blind was not in action against Telstar due to an injury. Berghuis appreciated his teammate's insight. "He's a defender, of course, so he thinks from a defender's perspective," he continued. "He says: if you have variation in your feint... That gives me a moment... You need that too." The win keeps Ajax in the title race, which you can follow on our standings page.
How did Berghuis perform in the match?
Besides his goal and assist, Berghuis was actively involved in Ajax's attacking play. His performance highlighted his versatility on the right flank and as an attacking midfielder. The 0-4 victory was the second consecutive league win for the Amsterdam side, who appear to be finding their form.
Berghuis's statistics at the start of this season are promising. He now has multiple goal contributions in the opening matches. His experience and technique are important assets for the young Ajax squad. You can view his current performances and those of the entire team on our stats overview.
What does this mean for the upcoming top match?
Ajax now looks ahead to the home match against PSV this coming Saturday. Berghuis indicated he enjoyed the win over Telstar. "Yes, at times. At times," he answered when asked by reporter Hans Kraay junior. "I think it's a good victory. This is also where we need to be heading, victories like this."
The top match against PSV is one of the most important fixtures of the season. Both teams traditionally compete at the top of the Eredivisie. The match will take place at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The full schedule with dates and times for this and other matches can be found on our fixtures page.
Daley Blind's injury remains a point of attention for the Ajax squad. His absence against Telstar was covered, but his experience and leadership are missed. The defender is a mainstay in the backline. You can follow his recovery and that of other players via our injuries update. The home match against PSV kicks off on Saturday at 18:45.
