'You spend the whole match watching those big signings at Ajax, but he has much more quality'

Mario Been and Kees Kwakman cannot understand why Abdellah Ouazane is stuck in a reserve role at Ajax. They said so on De Eretribune on ESPN.

Against NEC on Saturday, Ouazane got half an hour in the 1-1 draw, but it was not enough to change the game. The 17-year-old talent produced a few dazzling moments of skill, but did not get on the scoresheet.

“It takes a long time before Ouazane comes on, doesn’t it,” Been begins. “You spend the whole match watching those expensive, big names who have been signed, but a lad like that from the club’s own academy has, in my view, much more quality than most of those they have brought in.”

Been then has a clear message for coach Míchel Sánchez. “I would always play him. Because he can beat people as well.”

“That is very important in these kinds of matches, that you can also beat players when you are one-on-one,” Been said.

“He still goes for Gloukh on the left wing. He also had a few nice actions. And on the right they are still searching as well, especially now that Berghuis is not there.”

“I’m a big fan of Ouazane, but they are being so cautious with him there,” Kwakman said in complete disbelief. “Yes, why? You’ll have to ask the performance coach that.”