There is a very small chance that the Ajax captain will make his return on Thursday evening in the return against Aston Villa in the eighth finals of the UEFA Conference League. Johan van ‘t Schip said this on Sunday afternoon after the home game against Fortuna Sittard. Bergwijn has now been on the training field for a while, but has not yet trained with the group.
Van ‘t Schip hoped to be able to work towards a permanent starting eleven after the home match against PSV on February 3, but a few days later Bergwijn’s name was provisionally canceled. The captain injured his hamstring during training and therefore had to miss all remaining matches in February. The hope was that Bergwijn could make his return in March, but the matches against FC Utrecht, Aston Villa and Fortuna Sittard all passed him by.
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The second meeting with Aston Villa next Thursday normally also comes too early. “Bergwijn has not yet trained with the group once, so it will be very difficult if that had to happen before Thursday,” said Van ‘t Schip at the press conference after Ajax – Fortuna Sittard. The coach also did not have Steven Berghuis available against the Limburgers. The right winger has been sidelined for a while with a knee injury. “We had actually hoped that Berghuis would be there today (Sunday, ed.), but he suffered a small setback yesterday or the day before. That prevented him from getting minutes,” said Van ‘t Schip.
The Ajax coach is indeed prepared to take risks with Bergwijn, but that decision is not his alone. “I am willing to take a risk, but there is also a player who has a say in it and a medical staff who has a say in it. Of course I can’t push anything. It’s very short notice for Thursday,” Van ‘t Schip seems to rule out a quick return of Bergwijn.
Ajax needs Bergwijn and Berghuis to continue in Europe
65.6% Yes, I think so 34.4% No, but Berghuis must be there
