Understanding for Míchel, who prefers Edvardsen to Ouazane at Ajax

Daan Rots understands why Míchel is keeping Abdellah Ouazane on the bench at Ajax. The FC Twente forward believes the Spanish coach prefers a more disciplined option on the left wing.

In Ajax's last two matches, Míchel chose Oscar Gloukh and Oliver Edvardsen on the left wing. Edvardsen struggled against Fortuna Sittard on Saturday, which opened the door for Ouazane to come on as a substitute. Ajax then pulled away for a 1-5 win.

Rots is a fan of Ouazane and watched the winger live in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie last season. ''I was in the stadium for De Graafschap v Jong Ajax. De Graafschap won, but even then it was a bit of a one-man show,'' the Twente player said on Goedemorgen Eredivisie.

''You could just see that he was ready for the next step, or for a higher level. He would go past two players and be stopped by the third. It didn't really matter, he just went past them. He was sixteen then. Ouazane really does have quality.''

Mario Been cannot understand why Edvardsen gets the nod ahead of Ouazane. Presenter Milan van Dongen quickly points to the Norwegian winger's discipline. ''Tracking back, holding the width. That sort of thing.''

Still, Rots backed the Ajax coach's call. ''Everyone thinks: the player who does three stepovers should be picked. But if you really understand football, like that Ajax coach does, then you understand this: if you have a very creative player in the number ten position, then on the flank it is better to have a disciplined player,'' he said.

In his view, that is exactly what Míchel recognises. ''The Ajax coach does see that, and a great many Ajax players do not. They would really like to see Ouazane, but of course you have to weigh up what is best for your team,'' the Twente winger concluded in his analysis of Ajax's left-wing position.