After a historically woeful beginning to their 23/24 campaign, Dutch giants Ajax have hit a roadblock in their aspirations to return to former glory. The 36-time Eredivisie winners managed to attain only one win from seven league games so far this season, accompanied by four losses and two draws. With ex-manager Maurice Steijn ejected from the club, the project at Ajax seems increasingly uncertain. Is it possible for the Sons of God to resume the normality for a club of their stature?
Perhaps, for fans, the downfall of Ajax began during their clash against Feyenoord on September 27th, which saw supporters vandalizing their beloved Johan Cruyff arena following a 4-0 loss to the current champions. This turning point – however excessive – was a clear symptom of the growing illness surrounding the health of the club.
Despite making signings in the summer transfer window, their inability to replace key departed players has added great difficulty to their campaign. The departure of attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus to West Ham accompanied with star defender Jurrien Timber to Arsenal brought in a significant €83 million, which is evident to have been poorly reinvested into the squad.
Most importantly, the hunt for their Maurice Steijn replacement proves largely crucial to the future of their campaign. According to Dutch news publication ‘Voetbal International’, John van’t Schip is the reported favorite to fill the managerial void at the club. Other possible candidates for the role also include former Ajax manager Louis Van Gaal, accompanied in rumours by Mitchel van der Gaag.
With 27 league games left to be played, including the remaining three from six Europa League group stage showdowns, room for improvement certainly is available to a club like Ajax, given the circumstances allow such ambition. However, big changes need to be made at the heart of the club before any aspirations seem viable.
Written by Oisin O’Sullivan
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What a great read! Keep up the good work!