Ter Stegen starts as Ajax make four changes for PEC Zwolle opener
Míchel Sánchez has selected the summer signing in goal and reshaped three positions in defence for Ajax’s first Eredivisie match of the season.
Ajax head coach Míchel Sánchez has made four changes for the club’s opening Eredivisie fixture of the new season, away to PEC Zwolle. Marc ter Stegen is the most notable inclusion, with the 34-year-old replacing Maarten Paes in goal after beginning Thursday’s 3-1 win over Shelbourne FC on the bench.
The decision comes after Sánchez indicated on Friday that Ter Stegen and Julian Brandt had not yet completed enough training to be considered for starting roles. Ter Stegen, who joined Ajax on loan from Barcelona this summer, has nevertheless been handed his place in the side for the trip to Zwolle.
All three of the other changes come in defence. Lucas Rosa returns at right-back in place of Anton Gaaei, while Youri Baas is preferred to Daley Blind as Aaron Bouwman’s central-defensive partner. Summer arrival Caio Henrique also enters the team at left-back, replacing Owen Wijndal.
Ajax line up with Ter Stegen; Rosa, Bouwman, Baas and Henrique; Youri Regeer, Davy Klaassen and Oscar Gloukh; Steven Berghuis, Kasper Dolberg and Mika Godts. The selection gives Sánchez a substantially altered back line as Ajax begin their domestic campaign in Zwolle, only three days after their victory over Shelbourne.
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