Michel Sanchez Outlines Ideal Position For Ajax Star Rayane Bounida

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Rayane Bounida made 28 appearances for Ajax last season, scoring two goals and registering nine assists in all competitions.

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Bounida missed the entire pre-season due to an injury and has yet to appear for Ajax's first team this season. He made two appearances for Jong Ajax and sat on the bench against NEC Nijmegen and Excelsior, but didn't come on.

Bounida was used predominantly on the right wing last season. In the summer, Ajax strengthened that position by signing Viktor Tsygankov from Girona. Steven Berghuis is another player Ajax have in that position.

Berghuis did not play against NEC Nijmegen due to an injury, and Tsygankov has not had the best start to his time in Amsterdam and is still looking for rhythm.

Michel sees Bounida as a central player

Ajax have a lot of quality options in the No. 10 position. Julian Brandt has been excellent and will start most games for Ajax in that position when fit. Abdellah Ouazane and Oscar Gloukh have both been mainly used on the left wing this season, but can both play as a No. 10.

Despite Ajax's lack of quality options on the right wing and the significant squad depth in the no. 10 position, Michel Sanchez told Voetbal International that he intends to use Bounida in a more central role.

"Bouni is not yet at his best level, but from what I have seen so far, I do not see Bouni as a winger at the moment," Michel explained.

"In my view, he is a player who needs to touch the ball a lot and play in the centre. So I am not listing him among the options for the flanks right now; perhaps it could work in a role where he cuts inside a lot.

"He is not quite at 100 per cent in his development yet, but he has made great strides and is a player who can help us."

Michel Sanchez Reveals What Simon Adingra Will Offer AjaxMichel Sanchez has revealed what Simon Adingra will offer Ajax.Ajax have a right-hand side problem

Ajax have an imbalance on the flanks, and the right-hand side is particularly an area of concern.

All of Bounida, Berghuis and Tsygankov like to move into more central areas as opposed to holding the width. Anton Gaaei can make overlapping runs when he plays at right-back, but he missed the game against NEC Nijmegen due to injury.

Lucas Rosa started at right-back in that game, and Thilo Kehrer, who started in central defence, moved to the right-back position when Rosa went off.

Both Rosa and Kehrer are more defensive-minded players and are not comfortable pushing forward to hold the width.

Instead of signing Tsygankov, who likes to occupy similar areas compared to Bounida and Berghuis when they play on the right wing, Ajax should have signed a right winger who is comfortable holding the width to add a different type of profile to the squad.

Against NEC Nijmegen, Simon Adingra came on as a substitute for his Ajax debut and played on the right wing. In theory, he could hold the width on the right-hand side, but he is predominantly a left winger and did not look particularly impressive on the right.

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