MY ACCOUNT
Bitter rivals Ajax and PSV Eindhoven meet in the final of the KNVB Cup on Sunday.
The game comes just a week after the two teams met in the Eredivisie as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men earned a 3-0 victory to move up to second in the table.
With Feyenoord set to win the title, this match represents both clubs’ most realistic chance of silverware this season.
Ahead of the showdown, we have picked out a combined XI of Ajax and PSV players.
Goalkeeper: Walter Benitez (PSV)
Goalkeeper has been a problem position for Ajax this season with Geronimo Rulli signed from Villarreal in January to address the issue.
His fellow Argentine Walter Benitez, 30, has been a steady presence for PSV since arriving from Nice last summer and gets the nod in our side.
Right-back: Devyne Rensch (Ajax)
This was a tough decision with Jordan Teze having also excelled at right-back this term.
However, Ajax ace Devyne Rensch has been linked with a big-money Premier League move in recent months, so the 20-year-old takes the first spot in our defence.
Centre-back: Jurrien Timber (Ajax)
Of all the defensive decisions, this was the easiest to make.
Jurrien Timber is already a regular in the Netherlands’ starting XI and the 21-year-old looks destined to go to the very top of the game in the years ahead.
Centre-back: Jarrad Branthwaite (PSV)
It is somewhat ironic that in a season where Everton are desperately fighting against relegation, their on-loan defender Jarrad Branthwaite is chasing trophies with PSV.
Some of the biggest clubs in Europe are reported to be planning a summer swoop for the 20-year-old Englishman, who cut his teeth with League Two outfit Carlisle.
Left-back: Patrick van Aanholt (PSV)
This would have been an easy call had Daley Blind not moved to Bayern Munich in January.
Instead, former Premier League ace Patrick van Aanholt’s steady presence and strong recent form sees him edge out his rivals on the left of our back four.
Defensive midfield: Ibrahim Sangare (PSV)
This was the toughest choice to make as Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez is also enjoying an impressive campaign.
But ultimately we chose Ibrahim Sangare, with the 25-year-old Ivorian another Eredivisie talent who looks primed for a huge move at the end of the season.
Central midfield: Steven Berghuis (Ajax)
It has been another impressive season for Dutch international Steven Berghuis in Amsterdam.
The versatile 31-year-old has scored 11 goals and set up another 11 in all competitions — including two strikes and two assists in this season’s Champions League.
Central midfield: Joey Veerman (PSV)
There was a temptation to call upon the impressive Kenneth Taylor here, but it is impossible to look beyond the productivity of Joey Veerman.
The PSV star, 24, has scored nine times and made 13 assists in all competitions this term, recently seeing that fine form rewarded with a first senior Netherlands call-up.
Right forward : Mohammed Kudus (Ajax)
Ghana international Mohammed Kudus has recently returned to training and could feature in this weekend’s final in some capacity.
Kudus, 22, has been used as a striker and midfielder by Ajax but it is on the right of attack where he has looked the most dangerous, so far netting a fantastic 18 goals this campaign.
Left forward: Xavi Simons (PSV)
Another versatile attacker is Xavi Simons, who looks set to be the next superstar of Dutch football.
The 20-year-old could soon return to former his club Paris Saint-Germain, who have a buy-back clause, after a debut campaign in Eindhoven that has seen him bag 18 goals and lay on 11 assists.
Striker: Dusan Tadic (Ajax)
Dusan Tadic is still delivering at 34 years old.
Likely to start as a false nine for the Amsterdam giants this weekend, the former Southampton star has scored 11 goals and set up a staggering 20 more this season.
Do you agree with our line-up? Let us know by tweeting @LiveScore.
