“But these are the kind of matches that aren’t always easy,” Klaassen admitted. “Today, we had to do without Remko Pasveer and Josip Šutalo. That’s when you have to be a team, and we showed that today.”
After a goalless first half, Ajax started the second half well, and Brian Brobbey’s opening goal felt inevitable. “Of course, we talk at halftime about what can be improved, but I think every team does that. Ultimately, it starts with determination.”
The captain delivered a great performance against Go Ahead Eagles, but just days earlier, he had been the scapegoat after receiving a red card for a handball on the goal line against Union Saint-Gilloise. A day later, on his birthday, he received a fitting gift.
“If things had ended badly, this wouldn’t have been as funny,” Klaassen joked. “The coach’s speech ended at 11:59 PM. At exactly midnight, Remko Pasveer said, ‘Guys, we have a birthday boy here!’ Then Wout Weghorst walked in with a folded towel—and inside were Remko’s gloves. I think those two planned it.”
After the win over Go Ahead Eagles, Klaassen playfully teased Pasveer, who missed the match due to injury, as Matheus put in a solid performance in goal. “I told him, ‘We finally have a good goalkeeper between the posts!’ A little friendly banter—he needs to stay sharp. But with Remko, you can get away with it.”
