Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder can no longer ignore Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus after he made a huge impression in his side’s 4-0 demolition of Rangers in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
The Dutch tactician sparked widespread controversy and criticism when he benched the 22-year-old at the start of the Eredivisie this season.
Despite being Ajax best player during pre-season, the 49-year-old coach shocked many when he put the Ghanaian on the bench – a move which outraged the African superstar.
After the player’s breathtaking display against the Scottish giants on Wednesday, former Dutch international Jan van Halst insists coach Alfred Schreuder can no longer ignore the former Nordsjælland star after he replaced Brian Brobbey in the starting XI.
“He was phenomenal, great. Tactically, the intention was that he would pull players along and others would benefit from it. But when he adds that… It’s as if he was incarcerated for a few months and now has been released,” said Van Halst at Ziggo sports .
Kudus made it 3-0 for Ajax with a super strike. First he physically beat James Tavernier, then he nicely blasted the ball through the inside of the post.
“It’s great how he did that. The first fifteen minutes took some getting used to for him, then he threw off the hesitation,” continues Van Halst.
“If you then get the chance and show it like this, the trainer can no longer ignore him.”
Kudus was a basic player in Ghana’s last six international matches and highly regarded as the country’s poster boy ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
He is a dynamic forward who constantly moves into pockets of space both in front and behind defenders and looked a threat against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side all evening.
His performance will have seen some of Europe’s biggest teams take note and clubs must do some groundwork in order to secure his services in January.
Ghana are housed in Group H where they will take on Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay in the group stage of the final tournament in Qatar.
