His previous press conference echoed in the national media for days. Suggestions about agent Milos Malenovic’s power within Ajax, the manager’s authority and whether expensive buys like Brian Brobbey should be ‘wasted’ were Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder.

Today, the day before the competitive game in Waalwijk against RKC, Schreuder was in a much better mood. “I was just done with it,” said Schreuder. “It’s in me, although of course you shouldn’t do it too often. I’m the type who wants to give responsibility to others.

fatherly smile

A day later in training, one of his players came to him for a while. He looked back on that moment with a fatherly smile. “He said: ‘Well coach, you were angry, weren’t you, yesterday’. Yes, that happens occasionally.”

Much of the excitement his tirade caused in the media went through the coach. “I don’t read that. It’s about how I feel. And that’s how I felt.”

Watch below – in three fragments – Alfred Schreuder’s outburst to the press after the 7-1 win over Excelsior.

The outburst was emotional, but it didn’t come out of nowhere. “I had prepared it,” Schreuder replied when asked. “It was my idea, but I spoke to someone about it.”

Schreuder didn’t want to say who that was. The question is whether he feels enough backing from the organization given that the position of technical director is vacant following the departure of Marc Overmars.

Hi said he was pleased with the interview in which General Manager Edwin van der Sar showed his support in the weekly Voetbal International. “Then it will all be clear again. I’m well aware that Edwin has my back. Maybe it could have been done earlier. And yes, I implied that too.”

zero interest

Schreuder would like to draw a line under the excitement, but this hope seems futile for the time being. De Telegraaf, for example, reported on the great influence of Danny Blind at Ajax. Scheuer shrugs his shoulders. “I know it’s not like that. I think Danny Blind is an assistant coach.”

And he also laughs at the rumor that Schreuder is on a list to become a coach at German high-flyer VfB Stuttgart: “I would have been on a list. But I’m with a very nice club. Zero interest.”

Schreuder reacted calmly to the KNVB’s decision to cancel an intended OneLove campaign after last weekend’s dismay.

Feyenoord captain Orkun Kokçü declined to wear the ribbon out of religious belief, as did Excelsior captain Redouan El Yaakoubi, who stated he wanted to expand the ribbon’s meaning.

“Everyone should know that for themselves,” said Schreuder. “I think we as Ajax did well.”

Tadic captaincy

And what about his own captain Dusan Tadic? Didn’t the Serb play with a captain’s armband early in the game, which largely obscured the band One Love?

Schreuder: “I didn’t even look at it. What do I think of the cancellation of the KNVB? It’s at their expense. I don’t have to give my opinion on everything.”

Check out the reactions from Feyenoord manager Arne Slot and Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder below.

One thing is clear: Questions about football were sparsely asked in Amsterdam today. Not to mention the one about RKC Waalwijk, Saturday’s opponents. “RKC have a nice team and they’re a nice club too. I know it myself.”

Schreuder played five years in Waalwijk from 1993 to 1997 and later in the 2004/2005 season. “They have a very clear idea of ​​how to play. With 21 goals they are only the top four in the Eredivisie. They just do it very well.”

Schreuder doesn’t mind that RKC had to accept a humiliating defeat in the cup tournament in the middle of the week against De Hits from Groesbeek. His colleague patted Joseph Oosting on the shoulder: “An excellent coach”.

Every coach would begrudge it: a pat on the back every now and then. But as a coach of Ajax you shouldn’t rely too much on that.