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Van Basten wants focus on positional play
against Villa
Wednesday 22 October 2008
Marco van Basten is still waiting
for the first away win in the Dutch league.
Yet the football teacher has his
hopes high that his team will get a result in Thursday
first UEFA Cup group game at Aston Villa.
"Our positional play will
need to be very good," Van Basten emphasized.
"Then we do have a chance.
Our advantage vanishes when it comes to playing a physical
game. It's as simple as that really."
Despite all the good intentions
Van Basten knows his team are up for a tough test.
Aston Villa, still without the
injured Wilfred Bouma are doing well in the English
Premier League with a fifth spot.
And they had some good results
in their own stadium: Liverpool were held at 0-0 and
Manchester City were sent home with a 4-2 defeat.
"Aston Villa have many good
and experienced players," Van Basten thinks.
"On top they play top level
games in the Premier League every week. That is a big
difference with Ajax, who play in the Eredivisie with
a team made up of young talents. Based on their budgets
Villa and Hamburg are favorites in this group."
Bad away record
Ajax are on a disappointing ninth spot in the Eredivisie
and have so far gained point from their three away games.
At Willem II (2-1), Feyenoord (2-2)
and Heerenveen (5-2) they conceded no less than nine
goals.
"Especially in away games
our positional play wasn't good and we were overrun.
I have no explanation for that."
In an attempt to make his defense
less vulnerable Van Basten opted for a reinforced midfield
on Saturday against Groningen.
And it seems likely that he will
do the same at Villa Park, meaning that Gabri, Jan Vertonghen
and Rasmus Lindgren will again form the middle line
on Thursday.
Expected lineup: Vermeer; Silva,
Oleguer, Vermaelen, Emanuelson, Gabri, Lindgren, Vertonghen,
Sarpong, Suarez, Huntelaar.
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