PBP: Dest (starts) - 9/1 Ajax at Rotterdam

Match just started. Dest at Right Back. Video available at ESPN+. Other than throwing the ball in (just now) don’t think he’s touched it.

 

Dest with a shot WAY over the bar.

 

Dest completes a couple of simple passes. Padding his stats! Most of the action has been on the other side, but he just now played some excellent positional defense isolated out wide at the edge of the box. Turned the attacker back and made them backpass out of the danger zone.

 

Dest with serious wheels there- snuffed out a 2v1 with pure speed. So far, he’s had no real impact on offense but has defended his position well.

 

On offense, it almost looks like he is playing at RCB is a three man back line- he’s definitely not as advanced as the left back. That could be because the attack has been mostly going down the left, but Ajax seem to be not committing the extra outside back to the attack (yet). B

 

Yeah, looks like that’s the design. Last play started right and Dest was forward in the attack and the LB was back. Once the ball switched to the left, Sergiño dropped back.

 

And Ajax score on total Route 1 there. CB kicks the ball way down the field, forward runs onto it and scores. Dest not involved.

 

2-0 now. Nice goal. Dest not involved- he was back as defensive cover on a corner kick (CBs had come forward).

 

And that’s halftime. End of my shift, sorry. Someone else will need to do the 2nd half. Dest was good, not great. He was 80% defender and he did that well. His positioning was good. I saw one clearance where he really wasn’t under pressure but he still booted the ball (not far enough) up field. Otherwise nothing that is mark him down. Good job doing what he’s clearly been instructed to do- defend first.

 

Based on watching today, I agree with that. It’s a good sign, to me, that a player as young as Dest is trusted with such defensive responsibility. He’s showing a lot of discipline.