“We want to be the boss at home”

With AZ – Ajax, the round of 16 of the KNVB Cup begins on Tuesday with a summit match. A month ago, the confrontation in Alkmaar in the Premier League ended in a 2-1 victory for the home team. Troy Parrott and Mayckel Lahdo scored for AZ, Mika Godts for Ajax.

Last weekend, AZ drew 2-2 against leaders PSV, with the Alkmaarders mainly leaving the ball to the Eindhoven side. “We want to be the boss at home, and the pressure to continue in the cup is there for both parties,” coach Maarten Martens told club broadcaster AZ. “It makes things super interesting.”

“They can play in different ways,” Ajax coach Francesco Farioli told the Amsterdam team’s website. “Against PSV, for example, they didn’t have the ball as much, but they can also defend a little further down. They also have the pace and strength up front to attack open spaces. This is a team that can put pressure on any opponent.

Watch the goals below from AZ’s Premier League match against Ajax in December:

Ajax struggled to beat last-placed RKC Waalwijk (2-1) on Saturday. Farioli’s team did not emerge from the first round of Eredivisie 2025 unscathed. “Owen Wijndal and Davy Klaassen left the field due to knee bruises,” Farioli said. “Everyone is fit and can play.”

Croatian defender Josip Sutalo has recovered from the flu and returns to the national team.

At AZ, Ruben van Bommel was a substitute against PSV, as the wing striker was returning from adductor pain. “He played for half an hour and took it well. We went even further,” Maarten Martens told the AZ website.

Van Bommel must be ready for a starting place against Ajax. Van Bommel’s replacement Lahdo scored a nice goal against PSV, but had to be replaced at Eindhoven due to ankle pain.

The question is whether Martens chooses Van Bommel or Lahdo as his left winger. There is also the question of whether Mexx Meerdink is ready for a starting place after five goals as a substitute or whether Irishman Troy Parrott (ten goals) retains his confidence in the central front.