Manager Alfred Schreuder has admitted that Calvin Bassey was rightly sent off during the Johan Cruyff Shield match between Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven on Saturday evening.

Sixteen minutes into his Ajax debut after coming off the bench, the summer signing from Glasgow Rangers was shown a straight red card for a horror tackle on Ismael Saibari after a VAR review.

There is work to be done by Ajax ahead of the new Eredivisie season as their defensive frailties were exposed by PSV.

Though Schreuder believes Bassey's red card was fully deserved, he has backed the Nigerian to atone for his error, which contributed to the loss to the Eindhoven club.

In quotes relayed by Football Scotland, Schreuder said : "In the end, I think the red card was decisive.

"You felt we could go on and win it, but it is always more difficult with one less man.

"I looked at the incident after the game and he certainly didn't do it deliberately, but he's gone in a little too wild.

"I admit a red card could have been given and I can understand why they gave it."

Bassey became the most expensive Nigerian defender in history following his move to Ajax Amsterdam, with the Dutch giants signing him for an initial fee of 23 million euros.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : ajax.nl

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