Is Erik ten Hag being too harsh on his players?

Generally the manager of a team, which has won 12 out of the 14 games in the domestic league and has already made it to the pre quarter final round in Europe with one game still to play, is a happy man and would rather want to talk about the positive traits of his team than to talk about the weaknesses, but Erik ten Hag, the man in charge of Ajax, is a different sort of character.

Hag was still talking about where his team was faltering and what they should look to improve after the game against AEK Athens where a victory ensured Ajax’s entry to the pre quarter finals in Europe. Hag also singled out a few players whom he said were not at their best and had to contribute more for the team going ahead. Continue reading Is Erik ten Hag being too harsh on his players?

Ajax chief keen on keeping hold of goalkeeper Andre Onana

Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar has spoken about the ambition of keeping hold of goalkeeper Andre Onana amid the ongoing interest from Barcelona. The Cameroonian keeper graduated through the La Masia academy before making the switch to Amsterdam and he has been theclub’s first-choice shot-stopper over the past two-and-a-half seasons.

Amidst this, Onana has been touted for a probable return to the Camp No in January but Van der Sar has appeared to rebuff the speculation by citing that the club are planning to keep their main players for the long-term, he said: “Also He was in a rush to play first-team football quickly, but I think the level that he composed himself and that first year, playing straight away the Europa League final was a great start.

“Last year was a difficult season but this year again he has proven to be extremely valuable for the team and besides that, he is a great guy. We develop great players, not only in Amsterdam but hopefully also in Cape Town and there is interest in a lot of our players, but we like to keep them for as long as possible. I think there are always a lot of rumours about players from Ajax.”

Barcelona are currently comfortably placed with Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Jasper Cillessen performing the roles of first-choice and second-choice goalkeepers respectively. However, the latter of those two could part ways with the club during the winter period with his quest to regular game time for both club and country.Owing to this, Onana has been highlighted as a potential option but judging by the comments made by Van der Sar, Ajax remain determined to ward off any interest when the transfer window reopens. Ajax have made a positive start to the campaign with 11 wins from the opening 13 matches but they are still six points off table-toppers and reigning champions PSV Eindhoven, who have made the perfect start to the season.

Ajax supporters assaulted in Athens

The trip to Athens proved to be very fruitful for Ajax from a results point of view (they were able to secure a clinical 2-0 victory and ensured their qualification to the next stage of the Champions League.

Sadly the supporters of the club who flew to the Greek capital to enjoy the game won’t return with very fond memories because they were subject to violence and had to suffer the assault of not only the home supporters, but also the Police. It’s been reported that some visiting supporters actually had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. Continue reading Ajax supporters assaulted in Athens

Xavi backs Frenkie de Jong to make Barcelona move

Barcelona legend Xavi believes Ajax’s versatile midfielder Frenkie de Jong can be regarded as the perfect fit for the Catalan giants in terms of his playing style. The Dutchman has caught the attention of a number of elite clubs after his impressive progress in Amsterdam but the Blaugrana are nevertheless said to be leading the race for his services.

Speaking to reporters, Xavi indicated that the Dutchman’s style of play familiarises to that of Sergio Busquets and believes he is the kind of player that Barcelona require in the centre of the park, he said: “I have not seen him play a lot, but he does look like Sergio Busquets in terms of playing style. The Ajax school is a bit like the one in Barcelona.
Continue reading Xavi backs Frenkie de Jong to make Barcelona move

Donny Van de Beek hints at Ajax departure

Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek has hinted that he could leave Ajax during the transfer window after finding himself out of favour under manager Erik ten Hag. The 21-year-old started the club’s first game of the season against Sturm Graz but he has since found himself being benched by the head coach.

Speaking to Voetbal International, the youngster admitted he is trying to give his best for the team but finds himself in a difficult position with a starting spot no longer assured, he said: “I just keep giving one hundred percent my best and full commitment. It’s the trainer’s choice, of course, it’s hard to get in. I’ve been through it before, it’s still difficult, but I’ll always give it all, it’s the trainer’s choice.”
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Assertion Of Ajax On Refusing To Sell Its Stars Gives A Welcomed Breath Of Fresh Air

The decision of Overmars to refuse to sell top young talents of Ajax represents a step in the right direction for the club. This is the best step taken by the club which is seeking to revive its old glories

According to a study performed by the International Centre of Sport Studies (ICSS) in Switzerland Ajax is the best contributor of professional footballers in all through Europe’s top divisions. However, this is not a surprise that the world in general and Europe has always been in fear of the giants’ footballing academy of Dutch.
Continue reading Assertion Of Ajax On Refusing To Sell Its Stars Gives A Welcomed Breath Of Fresh Air

Memphis Depay Enjoying Free Role With Lyon

Netherlands international Memphis Depay is pleased to have received a free role at Lyon during the backend of the season. The Dutchman has been in outstanding form of late with five goals and five assists in just four league games, and he is aiming to continue the run for the remainder of the campaign.

Speaking on Lyon’s official website, he said: “I think I’m at my best right now. I feel very free on the field. I have confidence, and that’s good. I don’t think too much about the pitch. I’m just enjoying the moment. I’ve felt the difference since the beginning of the season. It’s important for me to play every match the best I can. If I can give assists or score goals, that’s fine. Obviously I’m really happy when I score, but first and foremost I want to play well. I want to be at my best every game and have fun. The rest will come naturally.” Continue reading Memphis Depay Enjoying Free Role With Lyon

Sam Allardyce Admits Davy Klaassen Is Dejected With Omission

Everton manager Sam Allardyce has admitted that summer signing Davy Klaassen is disillusioned with life at the club after finding himself out of favour for the Premier League duties. The Netherlands international joined the Toffees after a top season with Ajax in the Eredivisie, but he has since no success in the English top-flight.

From the go, Klaassen struggled to adapt to the pace of the English game, and he has not started a single Premier League match for the Toffees since September. Speaking ahead of the Burnley match, Allardyce stressed that the Dutchman is not pleased with his situation, but there is nothing much he can do given the competition for places in the Toffees ranks.
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Guardiola Helped Shape My Tactical Knowledge, Claims New Ajax Coach

Ajax’s new coach Erik Ten Hag has just completed his first training session at his new club. After being appointed only a few weeks ago, Erik Ten Hag is expected to change the club’s near term vision. The club recently had a clear out of the managerial staff after they did not stick in line with the philosophy of the club. Ten Hag comes to the job with a relatively decent coaching career in but not at the very top of the game. He has been in charge of Utrecht before coming to Ajax, but he says that he has learned a lot from working with Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.

Ten Hag hopes to implement the lessons learned from the best in the business the Dutch outfit. The 47-year-old has replaced Marcel Keizer and will be hoping to make a major impact in the second half of the Dutch Eredivisie. Ten Hag has spoken at length about the way Guardiola has shaped his tactical approach and knowledge about the game. Regarded as one of the best managers in the world, Guardiola spent three years at the Allianz Arena, while Ten Hag was placed in charge of the Bayern Munich reserve team. Ten Hag is expected to be backed by a couple of signings, but the manager is not sure about the possibility of spending money in the January window.
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Sanchez chose Ajax over Barca

It has been revealed that Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez had the chance to go to Barcelona two years ago but elected to go to Ajax instead.

The 21-year-old has been earning rave reviews with his performances for the North London in the Premier League and also the Champions League this season. He came to the attention of Spurs during his two seasons in Dutch football with Ajax.
Continue reading Sanchez chose Ajax over Barca