Ajax needs a new technical director in the short term. That concludes The Telegraph after the 4-2 loss of the team from Amsterdam, visiting Napoli. The purchases of the current technical duo, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Gerry Hamstra, cannot convince and, according to the morning newspaper, the void left by Marc Overmars is still far from being filled.
Overmars had to resign from Ajax in February of this year due to transgressive behaviour. Just before the transfer summer, Huntelaar and Hamstra were in charge of the Johan Cruijff ArenA and according to Mike Verweij, club watcher of The Telegraph, not yet as hoped. “After the departure of Overmars, there is no longer a rope to tie to the technical policy in Amsterdam”, it can be read. The working method of the former Ajax director would have been completely thrown overboard.
“After a hesitant start, Overmars blindly trusted the opinion of the scouting, who advised with dozens of underlying reports to get Davinson Sanchez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, David Neres, Edson Alvarez and Antony from Latin America,” explains Verweij. “As a result, a large war chest was created with all the placements for the Champions League. Meanwhile, the new technical leadership often ignores scouting and hapsnap purchases are made, players that have not or hardly been scouted are bought, which are offered by agents.”
According to Verweij, trainer Alfred Schreuder would also benefit a lot from a new technical man in Amsterdam. “Ajax is desperate for a new technical director, who will give people in scouting and training great responsibilities again. Now everyone can hide behind each other and it continues to go downhill every day. In addition, Schreuder benefits from a td with respect, which provides backing. Just as Overmars and Ten Hag formed a two-unit for more than four years.”