Ajax vs Twente Match Preview
FC Twente needs one point to retain the title and Ajax will grab their first championship since 2004 with a win. “We have to keep our nerves in control”, Twente coach Michel Preud’homme said. “We proved to be able to handle the pressure in the past.” Twente won the Dutch Cup thanks to a Marc Janko header from a Theo Janssen cross in extra time against Ajax in the Cup final last Sunday.
Ajax’ aerial defense seems to be one of their weaker spots with Kenneth Vermeer as substitute for the injured goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. “Twente’s free kicks and corners are dangerous”, Ajax coach Frank de Boer admitted. “They’ve got taller players than we do.”
FC Twente and Ajax met three time before this season. Before last week’s Cup fina; Twente beat Ajax 1-0 in the Johan Cruijff Schaal, the Dutch Super Cup and the two clubs drew 2-2 in their league match in Enschede on September. Never before in Eredivisie history Twente managed to keep an undefeated streak of three matches in one season against Ajax.
Despite Twente’s superior recent record De Boer is confident that he will celebrate his 41st birthday with his first championship as a coach on Sunday. “I think we’ll win. The Cup final has been a good experience for our young team. They’ve learned to play with a lot of pressure. And don’t forget the crow. We’ll be playing a home game, which is a huge advantage of course.”
Both teams are almost at full strength on Sunday. Ajax will miss striker Mounir El Hamdaoui, who has had a difficult time adapting to the Ajax system since De Boer took over from Martin Jol in November. In the Cup final Siem de Jong started as the centre forward, and Dario Cvitanich is another option on that position. FC Twente may miss American defender Oguchi Onyewu due to a muscle injury.