Manchester United defender Daley Blind feels his football grounding at Ajax has helped him to adapt to different positions on the pitch.
The Dutch international joined Manchester United from Ajax last summer and played both as a defensive midfielder and left-back in his first season in England.
Louis van Gaal has deployed him in central defence this season and despite a defeat at Swansea last weekend, his partnership with Chris Smalling has garnered praise for its composure.
Blind, 25, credits Ajax for his ability to play in different positions as the club encouraged him to take the challenge of assuming a variety of roles.
"I played there [central defence] in the Ajax youth team", Blind told MUTV.
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"I’m happy that Ajax's academy allowed me to play in different positions and to improve to become the player that I am now.”
The Dutchman is confident about his ability to play in multiple areas of the pitch for the team and said that it is very important that he is clear about the role he will be expected to assume when he plays in a particular position.
"I am a player who can adapt fast to different positions, whether it be midfield, left-back or now centre-back.
“I try to look to each position and ask myself: 'What is needed for this position?' 'What do I have to do in this position?' and try to work from that. I am very happy that I can play in these positions."
Despite losing at the Liberty Stadium, Van Gaal is expected to persist with Smalling and Blind as his centre-back pairing when Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford after the international break.
