Owen Wijndal Warns Ajax Against Underestimating AZ Ahead of Eredivisie Clash
Ajax may enter Saturday’s Eredivisie meeting with AZ as favourites, but Owen Wijndal has cautioned his current club against taking their Alkmaar visitors lightly. The left-back expects a demanding contest against the team where he developed, made his professional debut and learned the attacking principles that still define AZ.
Speaking to De Telegraaf, Wijndal praised AZ’s consistency, recruitment and ability to challenge the Netherlands’ biggest clubs. He believes Ajax’s stature gives them the edge on paper, but says AZ have enough quality and tactical clarity to trouble any opponent.
“AZ have been a very good team for years,” Wijndal said. “They have quality, a clear way of playing and keep producing new talent. You can see that again this season. I think every opponent finds it difficult against AZ, not just Ajax.”
Wijndal Recognises the AZ Identity
Wijndal’s assessment carries particular weight because his connection to AZ stretches back to his youth. He came through the club’s academy and made his senior debut roughly a decade ago, before eventually moving on to Ajax. From that perspective, he has seen how the club has evolved—and how much of its footballing identity has remained intact.
He says AZ continue to trust young players developed in-house, while maintaining a recognisable approach built around attacking intent. Their full-backs are encouraged to advance, support attacks and take initiative, helping the team create width and put pressure on opponents.
That continuity can be an advantage in a high-profile match. Players who understand the same principles can move the ball quickly and respond instinctively when the game changes. For Ajax, that means the challenge will not simply be containing individual threats; they will also need to disrupt the patterns that make AZ effective as a team.
Stengs, Clasie and AZ’s Emerging Talent
Asked which AZ players might have the ability to fit into Ajax’s squad, Wijndal was careful not to make a simple comparison between the two teams. Ajax also have strong options across the pitch, he noted, so judging who would suit the Amsterdam side depends on the position and the squad’s specific needs.
Still, Wijndal singled out Calvin Stengs as a player with considerable ability and described Jordy Clasie as an excellent footballer. He also pointed to younger names, including Meerdink, Dijkstra and Smit, as examples of the promising talent coming through at AZ.
The comments highlight one of the club’s most important strengths: combining established performers with a steady supply of young players. That balance can help AZ remain competitive without relying entirely on major transfers. It also gives the team depth and energy, particularly over a long league campaign in which injuries, suspensions and fixture congestion can test every squad.
Why This Eredivisie Match Could Be a Close Contest
Ajax remain one of Dutch football’s most prominent clubs, with a history and resources that set them apart. Wijndal nevertheless believes the gap in reputation should not be mistaken for an easy fixture. AZ regularly compete near the top of the Eredivisie and have built a reputation as a difficult opponent, even if they do not win the title as frequently as Ajax, PSV or Feyenoord.
That distinction matters when considering the match prediction. Ajax may be the natural favourites, especially with home advantage at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, but AZ’s organisation and attacking style could make the game uncomfortable. If the visitors find space for their advancing full-backs and connect effectively with their forward players, they can create problems for Ajax’s defence.
For Ajax, the key may be to control possession without allowing AZ to turn transitions into dangerous attacks. The home side will also need to press with discipline: an aggressive approach can force errors, but poorly timed pressure could leave space for AZ to exploit. In a contest between two teams that value attacking football, the midfield battle and defensive balance may prove decisive.
Wijndal’s Prediction: Ajax Are Favourites
Despite his respect for his former club, Wijndal expects Ajax to start as the favourites. He pointed to the quality Ajax have added to their squad, while maintaining that he generally sees the Amsterdam side as the team to beat in the Dutch league.
“Of course, we have brought in good players and that helps, but I always see Ajax as favourites in the Dutch league,” he said.
His prediction is not a dismissal of AZ. Rather, it reflects Ajax’s standing and the advantage of playing at home. Wijndal’s wider message is that being favourites does not guarantee a straightforward evening. AZ’s consistency, academy production and clear footballing identity make them capable of competing with the country’s leading sides.
For supporters looking ahead to Saturday, the fixture offers more than a meeting between two Eredivisie clubs. It is also a reunion for Wijndal, a test of Ajax’s title credentials and an opportunity for AZ’s emerging players to show their quality on a major stage. The match is scheduled for a 21:00 kick-off at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, where Ajax will need to turn their status as favourites into a strong performance.
