Amsterdam wins again
After seven games without a win in the Eredivisie, Ajax Amsterdam parted ways with coach Alfred Schreuder at the end of January. Managing Director Edwin van der Sar now commented on the background to the dismissal in a TV interview and countered the 50-year-old’s allegations that the club had not supported him sufficiently. The former national keeper of the “Elftal” also classified the recent upswing under Schreuder successor Johnny Heitinga and gave an insight into the failed loan of Seville’s Lucas Ocampos.
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As early as November last year, an extensive analysis was carried out at management level due to the disappointing sporting performance of the team, van der Sar said at “Voetbal Internationalquotes: “We discussed what we wanted to change, with a slightly smaller selection and an additional assistant. We gave Schreuder the confidence to get things back on track. Before the World Cup we dropped a lot of unnecessary points. We had expected that we would manage the turnaround after the winter break.” The draw against the table 17 at the time. However, FC Volendam was then too much of a good thing. “If you don’t beat Volendam at home, it’s over,” the 52-year-old continued.
When asked in retrospect whether it was a mistake to install Schreuder in the summer as the successor to Erik ten Hag, who had moved to Manchester United, van der Sar denied: “I don’t think so. We made a list of some available trainers and did our homework. We already knew Alfred as Erik ten Hag’s assistant when he made a good impression with his footballing skills.” Ultimately, however, the plan with the former Hoffenheim coach didn’t work out – Schreuder averaged just 1.65 points from 26 games , according to the TM database one of the worst records in club history. “Alfred worked hard and did his best but it didn’t work out. He has the qualities, but at the moment it wasn’t enough for us,” said the managing director.
Van der Sar countered previous statements by the coach that he had not received enough support from the club’s management: “I think he was adequately supported. We held talks and there was support from within. It also depends on how you handle the situation. Alfred has had the most conversations with Gerry Hamstra and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. I spoke to him at regular intervals.”
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All Ajax transfers for the 2022/23 seasonTo overview
During Schreuder’s short tenure at Ajax there was a major change in personnel, which meant that top players such as Antony, Lisandro Martínez, Sébastien Haller and Ryan Gravenberch had to be made up for. Around 216 million euros in income at Ajax in the current season compared to 113 million in expenses.
One of the summer additions was Sevilla left winger Lucas Ocampos, who flopped. The winger’s short-term loan on Deadline Day, during which the Blanquirrojos received a €4m fee and a €16m purchase option for the Dutchman was agreed, was due to Schreuder’s initiative and did not reflect the actual Ajax approach according to van der Sar: “We make the selection beforehand. We prepare for this with scouting and make sure that we look at a player five or six times. Things were hectic towards the end of the transfer and things didn’t go according to the correct process that we normally stand for.” Things didn’t go well for the ten-time Argentina international in Amsterdam, after just six appearances he returned to Spain with the consent of all parties.
Ajax sales ranking: 4 of the 20 most expensive went in 2022/23
Ajax boss van der Sar praises coach Heitinga: “Something’s happening”
For Ajax, however, since taking over ex-professional Johnny Heitinga as a coach, things have been looking up again. From the games against SC Cambuur and Excelsior there are two wins and 9:1 goals. Van der Sar is convinced that, unlike Schreuder, the 39-year-old reached the players directly with his ideas: “It’s also about the clarity that you give the players. Managing a cabin is difficult. There are always egos. You can be tactically strong, but what are the players doing for you? will they walk for you I think John came straight in with clarity. The fact that he uses the same composition twice for the team also helps, I think.”
Under the new sporting management, Ajax are acting better again, the club boss confirmed: “Something is happening. I saw great attacks and chances, the intensity of the pressure was good. However, more games are needed to see if the period of weakness is over. Players have taken a turn with the way they play soccer. They come into play in a different way and can decide a game with the chances they create.”
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