How Ajax spiralled to the brink of a season without Europe | OneFootball

Ajax finished fifth after four wins, seven draws and three defeats in their last 14, and could miss Europe next season for the first time since 1990-91. They must beat Groningen, then overcome Utrecht or Heerenveen on Sunday to reach the Conference League’s second qualifying round.

With the Johan Cruyff Arena booked for Harry Styles’ tour, the match will be played at Volendam, 30 kilometres away, in a 6,800-seat stadium. Voetbal International notes that constant tactical and mental shifts under three coaches have left players disoriented and belief ebbing.

John Heitinga was dismissed in November after four Champions League defeats and a slide to fourth. Fred Grim could not halt the drift and was replaced in March by Oscar Garcia, initially hired for the reserves, who said the side did not feel like his.

Squad churn has bitten. Jorrel Hato joined Chelsea, Brian Brobbey left for Sunderland, Jordan Henderson and Remko Pasveer departed, and Kenneth Taylor moved to Lazio.

Additions such as Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free, Oleksandr Zinchenko from Arsenal, Raul Moro from Real Valladolid, since loaned to Osasuna, and Ko Itakura from Borussia Mönchengladbach have struggled with adaptation and injuries.

Returning forward Kasper Dolberg, 28, has three goals in 22 league games. Davy Klaassen’s influence has dipped and Steven Berghuis missed more than half the season through injuries.

There is some promise. Mika Godts, 20, has 17 goals and 12 assists, with Jorthy Mokio, 18, and Rayane Bounida, 20, also emerging. Keeping them could be difficult without Europe.

Source: L'Équipe