Ajax’s Draw Against Go Ahead Eagles: A Silver Lining in Young Talent

Despite the disappointing 2-2 draw between Ajax and Go Ahead Eagles, journalist Henk Spaan identified several positive aspects in his column for Het Parool. He expressed admiration for the performances of Aaron Bouwman and Rayane Bounida, noting that these two young talents bring vitality to the Ajax squad.

Henk Spaan was particularly impressed by Aaron Bouwman, who received a starting position for the first time in weeks due to Youri Baas’s absence. The eighteen-year-old center-back formed a solid partnership in defense alongside Ko Itakura. Spaan remarked, “It is rare to see such an intrinsic leader emerge at his age. In contrast, Ko Itakura, at 28, appeared almost like a nervous teenager next to Bouwman.” Bouwman was favored over Josip Sutalo, who struggled during the recent cup match against AZ, indicating that the Croatian may have fallen behind the teenager in the team’s hierarchy.