Friday, 19th April, 2013
Ajax manager Frank de Boer has urged his team not to take Heerenveen lightly today, and fully focus on earning a crucial three points.
The Lancers go into the match as the league leaders, but the boss is wary of Marco van Basten’s side, who have won against Ajax’s rivals PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord this season.
"There are still 12 points to distribute. We are in good shape, but we are not yet there”, De Boer told his club’s official site.
“Every day we have to work to the next game. We have to fully focus and then the chances are that you pick up three points.
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“I do not want the players to be affected by the pressure."
The 42-year-old also spoke of his respect for the way Van Basten has performed this season with the Frisians, and Heerenveen’s impressive results.
“I like Marco van Basten’s attitude after a tumultuous beginning stage where he received much criticism. He has continued to follow his own path and that has ultimately yielded good results.
“Heerenveen can even still make the playoffs and no one had previously thought about that this season. You see the hand of Marco in there.”
The Frisians are sitting in seventh spot in the Dutch league table, and have four games more to play this season.
Ajax have played against Heerenveen twenty times in the Eredivisie and the Amsterdammers have been victorious a whopping fifteen times.
The Lancers will also be without regular goalkeeper Kenneth Vermmer, after he was suspended for two games for a foul on Heracles striker Geoffrey Castillion on 7th April.
Jasper Cillessen will protect the sticks for Ajax in his absence.
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