Ajax broke a Dutch record when spending €22m on the signing of Sebastien Haller from West Ham United last month, and their big investment seems to have been worth it so far.
With five goals and five assists in only nine appearances for the club, the 26-year-old didn’t take long to prove himself at the Eredivisie giants.
His success makes him the man of the moment at the club, and now in an interview with Voetbal International, he claims he feels no pressure for being their biggest signing ever.
“That amount doesn’t matter to me, because I can’t do anything about it myself. I’m also used to it that my performance can be viewed in this way,” Haller told Voetbal International (via Ajax Show Time).
“Eintracht Frankfurt took me over from FC Utrecht for a record amount. And for West Ham United that was also the case. Now again, so it’s not new to me. And it does not create extra pressure.”
Now working with Erik ten Hag at the Dutch side, the striker makes sure to gives big compliments to his new boss, and claims to have changed his mentality as their philosophy is to win every game.
“Tactically there’s no better coach than Ten Hag, I’m sure. Everything is football with him too. Seriously: he eats, drinks and sleeps football. He’s so possessed. We have always kept in touch over the years and it feels comfortable to be able to work with him again.
“Here you have to be on top every game, wherever and against whomever we play, we won’t do it for less than a win. I want to be important in that. In terms of statistics, my start is okay, but I know that I’m not yet at the level where I want to be. For that I also have to find my place in Amsterdam, with my family. Having rest, which gives me all the energy on the field. Something like that always interacts with each other. But that will be fine, I’m convinced.”
