The 41-year-old tactician has insisted that his side’s primary aim this term is to successfully defend the title ahead of the KNVB beker Cup clash against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AZ-c38571 Alkmaar.
Ajax Amsterdam head coach, Frank de Boer, has asserted that his side’s prime objective this term is to successfully defend the Eredivisie title.
The reigning Eredivisie champions are currently sitting fourth in the league table, five points behind the Eredivisie table-toppers, AZ Alkmaar, whom they lock horns on their return to league action at AFAS Stadion on Sunday, January 22.
The Amsterdammers boss has stressed that his side must secure all three points in his side’s upcoming clash against Gertjan Verbeek’s troops if they are to keep their hopes alive of defending the title.
“Our focus is on the league title. If we want to challenge for the league, then we must win”, De Boer was quoted as saying to the club's official website.
The Amsterdam giants will host the Alkmaar outfit at Amsterdam Arena on Thursday, January 19, to conclude the abandoned KNVB beker Cup fixture.
The defending Dutch champions have also received morale boosting news from the medical camp that Gregory van der Wiel and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lorenzo-Ebecilio-c22428 have fully recovered from their respective injuries.
However, the 41-year-old tactician has asserted that he will not risk the duo in the Dutch cup encounter and wants them to be fresh for Sunday's game against the league leaders.
“I will not take any risks with them. Van der Wiel would have been able to play on Thursday, but we would prefer to wait and make sure he is fresh for Sunday, the league is more important for us”, De Boer added.
Only children and women are allowed to attend the replay of the Dutch cup match at Amsterdam Arena. The Dutch mentor revealed that it certainly would have been better had his side’s supporters were allowed to watch the match.
“It is obviously better than an empty stadium, though we naturally would have preferred our own supporters to be there. But the presence of all those children will probably create a lot of noise in the stands”, De Boer concluded.
The 41-year-old would be hoping that his side stage a good show and progress through to the next round of the competition.
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