Aaron Bouwman maintains a remarkable unbeaten record for AFC Ajax in the Eredivisie. The defender has never lost a league match in which he has played, a fact he himself does not understand.
This was reported by Voetbal International following the 0-4 victory over Telstar last Sunday. Bouwman played his eleventh Eredivisie match for Ajax and formed the central defensive partnership with Dies Janse. The club currently sits fourth in the table with seven points from three games and a +6 goal difference. They have scored eight times while conceding only twice.
What is the secret behind Bouwman's record?
Aaron Bouwman has no idea why Ajax never loses when he plays. "I just do my thing," said the defender. The statistic is not discussed in the dressing room and Bouwman is unsure if the manager is aware of it. This season, he hasn't missed a single minute, underlining his reliability.
Competition for his position decreased this summer. Josip Sutalo left for Lazio and Ko Itakura moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach. This opens opportunities for Bouwman, whose goal is to play as many matches as possible. Ajax recently qualified for the main phase of the Conference League, promising more playing time.
How did the match against Telstar go?
The 0-4 win at Telstar was a demonstration of strength. Bouwman's father, a big Telstar fan, was in attendance. "He was in the stands and is for Telstar, yes. But today he was for me and for Ajax," Bouwman explained. The victory fits Ajax's recent form of WDW (win, draw, win).
The Amsterdam side trails league leaders AZ Alkmaar by five points in the title race. The next challenge is significant: a home match against PSV Eindhoven on September 5th. PSV is second and comes off an impressive 1-6 win over FC Utrecht. Ajax must manage without the injured Youri Regeer for now, as listed on our injuries page.
What does this mean for the coming weeks?
Bouwman's unbeaten record is a positive sign for the defense. With only two goals conceded in three league matches, the back line is functioning well. The coming weeks are crucial, with the top match against PSV as the first major test. The fixture list can be found on our fixtures page.
A solid defensive foundation is essential to close the gap on AZ Alkmaar. The team's statistics, including goal difference, can be followed on our stats page. The focus is now entirely on preparing for PSV, a match that could define the direction of the season.
