The cup evening against Excelsior Maassluis was a memorable one in Bounida's still fledgling Ajax career. When the creative Belgian looks back, he does so with a mixture of pride, but also a touch of modesty. "We all played really well, but I felt great," Bounida reflects on the emphatic cup victory.
Four assists and a goal
The attacker played an important role in five of the seven goals. Four assists and a goal made the Belgian the best player on Ajax's side. "We won 2–7 and I was involved in quite a few goals." After the match, Bounida was honoured as Ajacied of the Match. "That was the first time and therefore a special one. I’ll definitely remember this."
What does he himself consider the highlight of the cup match against Excelsior Maassluis, which was played at Het Kasteel in Rotterdam? Bounida: "Those four assists are the highlight of the evening for me. Especially because I had never given four assists in a match before in my life. That's why they feel more special than my goal. Although, of course, a goal is important too."
Cup continuation against AZ
Ajax continue their cup adventure on Wednesday evening against AZ. Bounida expects 'a tough match' in Alkmaar: "An away match as well. But we’re ready for it."
How important is the cup competition for the winger? "Cup matches are just as important as the other matches. I want to end the season with trophies. The cup is one of the trophies we can win, so we're going all out for it. We always look at things match by match. Tomorrow AZ awaits, so we're fully focused on that game now. The most important thing is that we win and reach the next round. Ultimately that applies to all matches; we want to win everything. For me personally, the most important thing is that I can play freely and smoothly."
