Ahmetcan Kaplan mesmerized Van Hooijdonk!

In the Dutch Eredivisie match where Ajax defeated Utrecht 2-0, he started in the first 11 for the Dutch giants for the first time. Following the match, Dutch football figures used words of praise regarding Ahmetcan.

VAN HOOIJDONK: I WAS MESMERIZED

Evaluating Ahmetcan's performance after the match, former Fenerbahçe player Pierre van Hooijdonk stated on the program Studio Voetbal, broadcast on Dutch television NOS, that Ahmetcan Kaplan, who displayed a superior performance in the match, left a solid impression. Hooijdonk commented, "For the first time in a long time, I found Ajax to be this tight. They gave away almost no chances. I think Utrecht is the first club in a long time that has managed to create so few chances against Ajax. Ahmetcan Kaplan caught my eye in defense. He really mesmerized me. Everything looks quite good."

KEES KWAKMAN: "IMPRESSIVE DEFENSIVELY"

Former Dutch footballer Kees Kwakman also spoke highly of Ajax's Turkish center-back. Reminding that Ahmetcan found a chance to play in the absence of Croatian center-back Josip Sutalo, who was injured last week, Kwakman said, "We cannot say he is a new Frank de Boer, but if you compare him with Sutalo, we can say this is a relief." Kwakman explained why the 21-year-old defender left such a good impression with the words, "How comfortable he is on the ball, how much self-confidence he has. He is impressive defensively. I think this is a great thing for a kid who finds himself in a team that is not performing well."

ALGEMEN DAGBLAD: "DETERMINED AND EAGER TO LEARN"

In the Dutch news site Algemeen Dagblad, it was stated that Ahmetcan Kaplan left an excellent impression against Utrecht, and the comment was made, "Actually, Ajax manager John van 't Schip made not one, but two transfers during the winter transfer window. In addition to experienced player Jordan Henderson, Ahmetcan Kaplan, who had been injured for a long time, also joined the team." In the report, the phrases "modest but also determined and eager to learn, due to the pain he suffered for a long time and his exemplary attitude during that period" were used for the Turkish footballer.

News Source: 12punto