Ajax returns with confidence after the international break
Ajax will continue its journey in the Eredivisie tournament without Kasper Dolberg, who has just suffered a serious injury. Coach Míchel Sánchez believes in new contract Marcos Leonardo and expects the team to come back strongly.
Ajax returns with confidence after the international break
According to Nos.
Why this is important
The absence of Kasper Dolberg, one of Ajax's key strikers, will create great pressure for the team in the upcoming matches in the Eredivisie. The team needs to find an effective alternative to maintain form and compete for a high position in the rankings. Marcos Leonardo, the new signing, will have the opportunity to show his abilities in this context.
Main point
- Ajax returns with confidence after the international break.
- Ajax will continue their journey in the Eredivisie tournament without Kasper Dolberg, who has just suffered a serious injury.
- Zonder Dolberg, maar met 'vertrouwen in Leonardo' hervat Ajax de eredivisie.
After an international break lasting almost three weeks, Ajax, who are fifth in the Eredivisie, will continue their journey this evening at the Johan Cruijff Arena against rivals NEC. This can be seen as an opportunity for Ajax to regain form after previous matches that were not as expected. Coach Míchel Sánchez commented that this vacation is like a second preparation period for the season, especially when the team has just welcomed new players such as Sofyan Amrabat and Yves Bissouma along with Simon Adingra, who is playing on loan from Sunderland.
"We are very excited to return to play. The team has trained very well and I see many improvements compared to previous matches. Some players, like Aaron Bouwman, have had time to recover during this period. The new players have also adapted to the philosophy and spirit of Ajax," said coach Míchel Sánchez.
However, Coach Míchel also expressed his dissatisfaction that the international break was so long. He believes that this causes the players not to have enough rest time. "But we can't do anything else, it's a matter for UEFA and FIFA," he added.
One of the biggest problems Ajax faces is Kasper Dolberg's injury. This striker suffered a serious injury during a training session with the Danish team and had to have surgery. "I spoke with Kasper on the phone. It was a big shock for him, but the surgery went well. It may be very difficult for him to return to play this year," coach Míchel said.
During the break, coach Míchel also returned to Spain and supported his son, who is also recovering from a similar injury. He is also actively learning English to improve his ability to communicate with the media, although this is still difficult.
Now, Ajax is entering an important period with great pressure when they have to play eight matches in the next thirty days, facing many strong opponents such as FC Groningen, Atalanta Bergamo in the Conference League, as well as AZ and FC Twente. The team needs to prove that they have improved significantly thanks to the addition of veteran players such as Marc Ter Stegen, Thilo Kehrer, Amrabat, Julian Brandt and Tolu Arokodare. It is impossible not to mention Marcos Leonardo, a Brazilian player who just joined for nearly 20 million euros but has not impressed much in recent times. Coach Míchel has had discussions with Leonardo to help him maximize his abilities. "We spoke to Leo about how he can become the best version of himself. He has been training well with the team and is developing," he said.
In fact, Ajax has made great strides compared to last season, shown through more effective attacking play with more opportunities and goals. Coach Míchel's team created 33 opportunities in the match against Excelsior, although the final result was a 2-2 draw. However, they also lost the ball unnecessarily and conceded goals easily, resulting in them having lost seven points after seven matches and are currently in fifth place, behind AZ, Feyenoord, PSV and FC Twente.
"Our playing style is very clear: we need to play offensively, we want to control the ball and overwhelm the opponent. We are trying to improve this by convincing the players to believe in our philosophy," coach Míchel emphasized.
The match between Ajax and NEC will take place at 9:00 p.m. tonight and will be broadcast live on the NOS Langs de Lijn channel at NPO Radio 1 as well as on the NOS website and app. As soon as the match ends, a summary will be available online.
What happens next
Ajax will face NEC in the next match, and coach Míchel Sánchez will need to adjust tactics to compensate for Dolberg's deficiency. The team will rely on new players like Sofyan Amrabat and Yves Bissouma to create attacking strength. If Marcos Leonardo can quickly integrate, he can become a decisive factor for Ajax in this difficult period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Ajax return to action after the international break?
Ajax will continue its journey tonight at Johan Cruijff Arena against rival NEC, aiming to regain form after matches that did not go as expected.
Who confirmed Kasper Dolberg's situation?
Coach Míchel Sánchez confirmed that Kasper Dolberg had a serious injury and had to have surgery, but the surgery went well.
Why does Ajax need to return to play right now?
Ajax needs to return to play to improve his form after the nearly three-week international break and to accumulate points in the Eredivisie.
What changes are there in the Ajax squad after the break?
Ajax has welcomed new players such as Sofyan Amrabat, Yves Bissouma and Simon Adingra, who is playing on loan from Sunderland.
What is Coach Míchel Sánchez's opinion on the international break?
Coach Míchel Sánchez expressed his dissatisfaction with the long international break, saying that this left the players without enough rest time.
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