Remko Pasveer is the oldest debutant in the Dutch national team after compatriot Sander Boschker. Indeed, Tukker, 38, earned his chance with solid performances at Ajax, reaffirming his Orange bid with two goals against Poland and Ukraine.

Pasveer has conceded 15 goals against Ajax since making his international debut for Orange. “Of course it’s frustrating,” said the goalkeeper ahead of the Champions League game against Liverpool.

“But it’s the reality. We’re in a phase where it’s difficult to keep a clean sheet. Why? We have to reduce the remaining defense better.”

It is obvious. The code word at Ajax for the Champions League squatters against Liverpool: residual defense. But what exactly does it mean?

“If you’re good on the ball and closed well, then you don’t have to worry,” Schreuder teaches. “Then maybe there’s still space, but then behind our defence. No players may be released between the lines.”

The coach has more influence on how his team “stands defensively” than when it comes to scoring goals. “I think you have to have a lot of structure in the first 60 or 70 meters of the field,” Schreuder continued. “Then it must be very clear what the agreements are, and we work on that every day. In the final phase, the players can play on intuition, which is also difficult to defend. Then you can be creative and you have to show this creativity.” “

Goalkeeper Pasveer has an important role in organizing this remaining defense. But how do you do that in a turbulent stadium? “You try to reach guys via Via,” says Pasveer.

“After that, my vocal cords broke. But I can also reach the first defender in a full stadium and then the move works. Last year there were still a few automatisms in it. Martínez, Tagliafico and Mazraoui had more feeling with Ajax’s style of play.” . But they didn’t have this level at the beginning either. These guys have to get used to that too.”

Pasveer’s discomfort didn’t go unnoticed either, the goalkeeper admits. “There were a couple of good games. But also games in which I could have taken balls that I could have taken in a good phase. I always hope that I’m not the best man on the pitch, because then we’ll do well.”

Missing chances is a problem at Ajax this season. The alarm bells rang two weeks ago after the second bitter defeat against Napoli. Add to that the loss of points in the Eredivisie against Go Ahead Eagles and AZ and the crisis was complete.

Two weeks later, Ajax are proud again at the top of the Eredivisie and are crowned No. 11 in the Premier League after losing 1-0 to newly promoted Nottingham Forest. Schreuder wants nothing to do with a weakening Liverpool.

“They can beat Forest 6-1 this weekend, which isn’t even a crazy result. But it doesn’t happen. A week earlier they beat City, not a bad team either. Liverpool are just a top club in the Premier League . And I think the competition is a bit stronger than the Eredivisie.”

Pasveer doesn’t want too many balls

At Anfield, Ajax stayed in the game against Liverpool for a long time but eventually lost 2-1. “We need to show more courage in football,” said goalkeeper Pasveer, who excelled in England.

“We played too many long balls and played back to me too much. It’s not good because that’s why I became a goalkeeper. We need to get more chemistry between the players and dare to press football, hand up.”

That will be necessary because after three defeats in a row, Ajax’s role in the Champions League seems to have ended. “We just have to win, with a two-goal difference,” Schreuder calculates. “Then we still have a chance. We have to show that it’s possible. With healthy courage and aggression.”

Haller back to The Future

Observant supporters saw Sébastien Haller practicing at De Toekomst’s training ground this morning. The Ivorian striker, Ajax’s top scorer in the Champions League last year, was diagnosed with testicular cancer after joining Borussia Dortmund.

Haller is now coming back from surgery and chemotherapy. Schreuder explains: “Sebastién is rehabilitating here for a few days and has asked if he can train here. It’s great that he was able to be here for a while to work on his recovery.”

“He’ll play for us tomorrow,” joked Pasveer, who also outlined the striker’s importance in set pieces last season. “Haller drove away a lot, he felt that very well. Now there’s Brian Brobbey or Edson Álvarez, they might have that a little less.”

National coach Louis van Gaal will also be particularly interested in the goalkeeper’s organizational skills and reflexes. Pasveer doesn’t want to know anything about an exam. “I’m not working on Qatar now. I’m working on Ajax,” laughs Pasveer. “Believe me, you’re into it more than I am.”