The Classic between Ajax and Feyenoord has been going on for a few minutes on Sunday when a cautious whistle sounds through the Johan Cruijff Arena. The home team has allowed itself to be pushed far back in front of its own goal, watching Feyenoord patiently look for an opening in the close-knit red-white block. If the encirclement lasts too long, grumbling can be heard from the stands. Why start so cautiously, in what is perhaps the most important home game of the season for supporters?
It is tempting to view those first minutes in the light of the past few months. Like the hesitation of a team that seemed more vulnerable every week than the previous one, and in a few months slipped from being a championship candidate to a team that had to fear even the weakest opponents. And who now feels intimidated by the big rival, who started the season much better and was still the leader until a few weeks ago.
But on a chilly, misty autumn afternoon, that scanning approach turns out to be mainly a smokescreen. A way to lure Feyenoord’s players as far away from their own goal as possible. Because then after an interception there is an abundance of space, and a lack of organization, and Ajax can cross the entire field via the fast wingers Mika Godts and Oscar Gloukh in a few ball contacts.
It turned out to be an extremely effective weapon on Sunday in the own Arena, where the hard core box remained empty as punishment due to the excessive lighting of fireworks two weeks earlier during a home match against FC Groningen. Feyenoord took more initiative and had more ball possession, but Ajax proved to be the most effective: 2-0. The fourth victory in a row, and therefore by far the best series of this season.
Davy Klaassen (Ajax) with a head wound, sustained while celebrating the opening goal against Feyenoord.
Photo Koen van Weel/ANP
Result for applause
Before the meeting, Ajax interim coach Fred Grim was asked about his playing style. How exactly did he do things differently from predecessor Johan Heitinga, who was fired at the beginning of November due to the disappointing results? Grim, who was briefly an assistant under Heitinga, dodged the question. They had only worked together for a month, he said. Just when they wanted to evaluate the playing style, the club management had made a decision and sent Heitinga away.
The differences are nevertheless clearly visible on the field, on Sunday in the Arena, but also in the previous weeks. In Heitinga, Ajax had a trainer for whom an attacking playing style was sacred. The club management had chosen him because it needed to be “more sparkling”, and so the former footballer looked for a solution in attacking from possession of the ball and applying high pressure. Even when it turned out that opponents were playing through it effortlessly, he stuck to it.
Grim’s way of playing is more like the football that Ajax played under Francesco Farioli last season. He also regularly opted for a pragmatic approach and was not afraid to prefer results over applause. Fans regularly expressed dissatisfaction about this, but the approach turned out to be extremely effective: with an unbalanced selection, Farioli won against much better opponents and seemed to be heading for a national title for a long time.
There are more similarities. The fighting spirit and perseverance, for example, to keep running for every ball. This becomes visible in right front Oscar Gloukh, who sprints just in front of his own goal, when he sees that teammate Youri Regeer is out of position during a Feyenoord attack. Or in striker Kasper Dolberg, who tries to control every long ball from the back, no matter how many opponent defenders he is standing between.
But perhaps the clearest similarity is the way Grim handles the defensive midfielder position. For a few weeks now he has chosen to drop it between the central defenders, as Farioli did all season with veteran Jordan Henderson. On Sunday, that task is reserved for Youri Regeer: in defense he is an extra disruptor, who helps the central defenders fight out duels. During the build-up he acts as a free man, making it easier for Ajax to find its way forward than earlier this season.
Nine points
How quickly Ajax becomes dangerous through this style of play becomes apparent after 13 minutes. A build-up that starts with a run from the young Sean Steur, from behind. He finds Gloukh, left in midfield, right in front, who is running far out of position. When the Israeli moves in, everyone expects a shot. As a result, captain Davy Klaassen is released a little further on. Gloukh sees it and passes, after which Klaassen shoots hard into the far corner.
It’s the first of many opportunities. Moments later, Dolberg shoots just past the post, and Steur and right back Lucas Rosa are also free in front of the Feyenoord goal. But because Ajax is careless with many of these possibilities, it remains exciting on Sunday for longer than necessary: only deep into injury time does substitute Jorthy Mokio decide the match, also with a shot from distance.
The penultimate round before the winter break therefore has two winners. Ajax, of course, which for the first time shows the contours of the team that almost became national champions last year. But also PSV, the new leader in the Eredivisie since the end of October, which is now nine points ahead of number two Feyenoord.
Ajax players Ko Itakura, Lucas Rosa and Jorthy Mokio celebrate the 2-0 with the home fans.
Photo Olaf Kraak/ANP
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