Ajax coach John Heitinga full of swagger for Classic: ‘Feyenoord’s weakness? You’re going to see that on Sunday’ | Classic Ajax-Feyenoord

While Feyenoord will have another Europa League clash to choose from, Ajax is already fully focused on the most exciting Classic in years. In fact, the team from Amsterdam even planned the press conferences on the day of the rival’s dress rehearsal, and not on the usual Friday. “There is no psychological game behind it”, Heitinga emphasized.

The 39-year-old clubman has resuscitated Ajax in just under two months. The champion seemed dead and buried as number five and with seven premier league matches without a win. Since the appointment of Heitinga as successor to the dismissed Alfred Schreuder, Ajax has climbed to second place with seven consecutive victories. Heitinga is very confident that his club will continue the pursuit in the Classic and will completely close the gap with Feyenoord in the Johan Cruijff Arena on Sunday.

“I see the eagerness and motivation in the boys. We want to show the best version of ourselves on Sunday. For the fans, this match has something extra. For the players too. They also want to be decisive in big matches,” said Heitinga, who does not necessarily think that Ajax benefits from Feyenoord’s European snack. “If they win, it gives them a boost. If they fly out, that’s a little bit. But this is the Classic. As a trainer, you don’t have to charge your players’ battery for that. There are no apologies. This is one of the best competitions there is.”

Heitinga still named the Madrid and Merseyside derby, which he experienced as a player. According to him, the Classic fits in that list. In fact, he keeps one of his finest football memories of it. After all, Heitinga made his debut in De Kuip in 2001, when Co Adriaanse let him fill in. “We played with one man less. I think I got yellow within thirty seconds and we won 2-1.”

As head coach, he had not yet experienced the biggest Dutch squatter. ,,For supporters this is the game of the year, but we all feel it. It’s about the lead. I’m going to enjoy it too. How? That already started after Heerenveen, when you make a game plan with the rest of the staff. If you train tactically like today. If you drive onto the Arena deck here for the press conference. As a player you felt that run-up. Now I experience it for the first time as a trainer. You prepare as best you can. You look very sharp and good. Also how you can place a possible countermove later.”

Heitinga looked back at the Classic of January (1-1). And more matches from Feyenoord, so as not to be surprised and see the title chances evaporate again. “It really is a team. The team is, if you look at each position, well scouted together. They fight for each other. That makes it really a unit. Arne Slot has done a good job.”

,,We also know that they have two ways of putting pressure and are also willing to sprint back a lot. I always say: whoever we play against, we have to do at least the same job. If we do that, it is more likely that individual qualities will decide the game.” And what Heitinga considers Feyenoord’s weakness? ,,You will see that on Sunday”, said the trainer full of swagger.

Heitinga also received several questions about his future. Since he won all national matches with Ajax – except for the European elimination against Union Berlin – it is increasingly questionable whether the club, which hopes to present a new technical director soon, still has to look for a new head coach.

“When I started at the end of January, I said to my wife: I’m just going to accelerate for a little more than a hundred days and then we’ll see,” says Heitinga, who acknowledges that it tastes like more. “When you’re in this place, you want to stay put. I have made an agreement with the club that I will stay until the end of the season and then we will see how to proceed.”