Janssen ready for Twente clash

Janssen ready for Twente clash

Published Jul. 29, 2011 9:15 a.m. ET

Janssen, the Dutch player of the year, joined the Amsterdammers from Twente in May and is hoping to claim some early silverware with the reigning Eredivisie champions in the Johan Cruyff Shield on Saturday. "I need matches with a good atmosphere, a good pitch and I cannot wait for Saturday's game against FC Twente," the Holland international told Ajax's official website. "The Johan Cruyff Shield is the least important of the three trophies this season but if you have the chance to win something, it would be foolish to pass it up. "Almost all of our injured players are back so it looks good. Either way, we are ready." Janssen played down the significance of facing his former employers in his first game for Ajax. "People around me seem to think it's a bigger deal than me," he added. "It will be fun to see some familiar faces again." Twente travel to the Amsterdam ArenA on the back of a 2-0 defeat of Romanian side Vaslui in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round on Tuesday night and although the return is next Wednesday, defender Tim Cornelisse insists their focus has already shifted towards the Ajax fixture. "We are fully focused on the game with Ajax," he told fctwente.nl. "The focus is not just on the European games but also the Johan Cruyff Shield. "Because of our preparation I have not seen Ajax in action but they haven't changed too much. "Kolbeinn Sigthorsson has come over from AZ Alkmaar and obviously Theo Janssen needs no introduction to FC Twente." Like Janssen, Cornelisse talked up the importance of the season curtain-raiser and felt it may have psychological implications for later in the season. He added: "In Holland every year there are three prizes to play for and that includes the Johan Cruyff Shield. "It is obviously different to a cup or championship but it's always good to win a match and it sends out a little reminder for later."

ADVERTISEMENT
share