Mar 03, 2024 at 4:01 PM Update: a day ago
Relief prevailed at Ajax following the victory over FC Utrecht. After a noisy week with criticism regarding the extra days off for the selection, the Amsterdam team won 2-0.
The victory came at just the right time for Ajax coach John van ‘t Schip following his controversial choice to release the selection for three days. “I saw a fresher team than in recent weeks. If anyone can make that assessment to give the team some rest, it is me.” And laughing: “I’m considering giving the boys four days off now.”
The free time for the Ajax players conflicted with the need to train the new game concept with five defenders more often. Last week once morest AZ the 5-3-2 was not executed flawlessly. Sharpening the system became the motto. At the request of the playing group, thirteen players still appeared at the De Toekomst training center on Friday.
However, Van ‘t Schip saw no discord in the selection. “It shows professionalism that players make that choice. But that also applies to the boys who wanted extra rest. We trained on the system on Wednesday and Thursday, and in a conditional form on Thursday. That’s why I opted for rest on Friday.”
Ajax had already had a busy program, including an away match in the Conference League in Norway. Van ‘t Schip noted that his players had not recovered sufficiently once morest AZ on Sunday. “I am at the club 24/7, I always consult with the medical staff. And so we decided to give a few extra days off.”
For trainer John van ‘t Schip, the victory came at just the right moment. Photo: Pro Shots
Brobbey: ‘I really needed some rest’
Striker Brian Brobbey spoke of a wise decision by coach Van ‘t Schip to give his players some more rest. He was treated on Friday for an irritated knee tendon and was on the treatment table. “Otherwise I might have trained too. But I was tired, I really needed that rest. And I don’t know how my knee will react once more tomorrow.”
Playing with five defenders is like swearing in church at Ajax. As a former winger, Van ‘t Schip knows the traditions at the club, where 4-3-3 was canonized by his teacher Johan Cruijff. But Ajax has already conceded 43 goals in the Eredivisie. In addition, the injured wingers Bergwijn and Berghuis were unavailable. “We have few alternatives offensively,” said Van ‘t Schip.
On Sunday once morest FC Utrecht, Ajax finally kept a clean sheet once more with five defenders. “We had to change something,” said Van ‘t Schip. He referred to colleague Ronald Koeman, who with the Dutch team often uses the same system with emerging wing defenders. And Van ‘t Schip knows that the Ajax crowd demands more than just points. “But you can also play good football in this system.”
Kenneth Taylor and Brian Brobbey (middle) were the celebrated men at Ajax. Photo: Pro Shots
‘We sleep well tonight’
Ajax now plays more compactly, Brobbey was a lone striker on Sunday with a block of four midfielders behind him. Nevertheless, Ajax’s top scorer scored his fifteenth goal of this season and provided the assist for his friend Kenneth Taylor in the liberating 2-0. Still, the changed concept takes some getting used to for the physically strong striker.
Brobbey: “It’s different, I’m used to two wingers. Now I play with two deep midfielders behind me. It was necessary to adjust our system because of the many goals conceded. In the end I’m happy with my goal. But if I may Then I prefer to play 4-3-3.”
Van ‘t Schip will stick to five defenders for the time being, especially on Thursday in part one of the eighth finals of the Conference League once morest Aston Villa. “I also know that understanding our system is related to results. I have played and worked at Ajax long enough to know how that works.”
Whatever system Ajax plays in, it is regarding “making goals”, Brobbey said, in his typical manner. Rest doesn’t rust, Brobbey said, smiling. “Taylor also scored his goal, he will sleep well tonight. And so will I.”
