Erik ten Hag considers Davy Klaassen 'ready to start' Beşiktaş duel | OneFootball

Ahead of Ajax’s important Champions League battle with Beşiktaş, manager Erik ten Hag revealed that Davy Klaassen will be available to start against the Turkish champions.

Klaassen had missed Ajax’s last four games with a groin strain but made a 14-minute cameo over the weekend as Ajax finally were able to play in front of a full crowd at home for the first time since the 2020 Eredivisie was cancelled.

Ahead of the all-important encounter, which could put Ajax on six points through two games, ten Hag was feeling rather upbeat and confident, though he will have to make tough choices when it comes to choosing his starting XI.

“I’m pretty good at that (making choices),” he said with a smile in his pre-match press conference when asked whether Klaassen or Steven Berghuis would start.

“Klaassen is match fit. He’s been out for a few weeks, but not so long as to be alarming. I’m sure he can start. So we will have to make a few choices.

“I can get around everyone, you have to look at it game by game. The principles do not change. But they both bring different qualities.

“Davy has a great sense of timing and a fantastic transition. Steven has good position choices and overview and technique to give the last ball.

“He has surprised me in his progression, especially in his conversion. That is essential in that position.

“There are no weak teams in the Champions League. They (Beşiktaş) have confidence, but so do we and we can also take care of things.”

While Ajax are boasting a strong squad, Beşiktaş will have to show some resiliency, as they will be without Miralem Pjanić, Domagoj Vida, Atiba Hutchinson, Welinton, Mehmet Topal, Alex Teixeira, Necip Uysal, Rachid Ghezzal, Kevin N’Koudou, Cyle Larin, and Javier Montero.