Ajax gets a new blow from Chelsea in the Champions League after an early red card

It was answered by the Chelsea supporters – of course in English – with the text that he, Heitinga, would be fired in the morning. But especially the chants of his own supporters, who held him dear to his heart as an Ajax player, will have cut through Heitinga’s soul.

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And Alex Kroes must not have been sitting comfortably in his seat either, because he was the one who spoke in an interview with Ajax Life indicated that Heitinga’s position would become untenable if the entire stadium turned against him. In doing so, he indirectly placed the power in the hands of the fans, while he himself simply had to find the trainer good enough or not. The conclusion can also be that it is impossible to play football against so much bad luck.

Accumulation of disaster Ajax

The accumulation of disaster, which resembles Murphy’s Law, ensured that the reasonably good first fifteen minutes turned out to be worthless at all. The most striking thing was that Heitinga chose Remko Pasveer under the bar. The almost 42-year-old goalkeeper was first choice under Francesco Farioli, but had to give up his place to Vitezslav Jaros this season. Pasveer kept his last match in May, against FC Twente, but is described by everyone within the club as a model professional and training animal. And it was not the routine that Ajax was played to a hopeless defeat.

While Pasveer has a wealth of experience with 488 matches to his name, Liverpool mercenary James McConnell was thrown into the deep end at Stamford Bridge. The young Briton, who had played 83 minutes at Ajax until the meeting with Chelsea, could not prevent Moises Caicedo from scoring the 2-0.

Weghorst and Chelsea penalties

On the billiard table, where Erik ten Hag’s team saw a large lead (1-4) disappear like snow in the sun in November 2019 after red cards for Daley Blind and Joël Veltman, Ajax was awarded the tying goal. Raul Moro, who was the other option for a substitution next to Gloukh after Taylor’s reckless foul, was knocked out by Tosin and attacker number three Weghorst converted the penalty (2-1). After his first Champions League goal, the striker kissed the logo of the million-dollar ball.

Amsterdam’s joy was short-lived, because in the remainder of the first half, German referee Felix Zwayer also pointed to the spot twice, much to the anger of the Ajax bench on the other side. Enzo Fernandez and the Brazilian prodigy Estevao allowed Pasveer to find the net for the third and fourth time (4-1).

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New sledgehammer blow to Ajax

The Amsterdam team lost to AZ (0-2) on Saturday, drew at the last minute against Sparta (3-3) and were left without a chance by Olympique Marseille (4-0). The last success was achieved on September 27, almost a month ago, against NAC Breda (2-1). Instead of a boost at Stamford Bridge, Ajax was dealt a new blow in London, as the second half turned out to be torture despite the introduction of Davy Klaassen for Weghorst, who had been booked with a yellow card. Tyrique George tormented the guests (5-1).

It seems like a blessing in disguise for Heitinga that his team will play another away match on Sunday (12.15 p.m.). This means that not the entire stadium can turn against him, but ‘only’ the away section. It should be noted that the Ajax fans showed that they still supported their club when they were 5-1 behind against Chelsea. But it is clear that something must finally be done in Enschede to turn the tide. If he has a quarter of the bad luck he had in London against FC Twente, then that should result in a three-pointer.

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