Marciano Vink is anything but pleased with the mentality at Ajax. According to the analyst of ESPN This has been the major problem for the Amsterdam team since the start of the season. After the lost match against FC Utrecht (4-3), Vink completely bashed four Ajax players.
“The mentality has not been good since the start of the season,” Vink begins his argument. “We are still amazed every week by those simple things, but it is actually no longer a surprise.”
Vink starts by analyzing images of Borna Sosa. The Ajax left back provided two assists against FC Utrecht, but was defensively flawed everywhere. “Look how long it takes before he gets back into action. This is just a bit of mentality with how you switch.”
Sosa delivers a simple wide pass and is then nowhere to be seen in the transition. “This is something you will absolutely not see with the top teams in the Eredivisie, that you decline in that way,” said Vink.
Steven Berghuis, who relieved Carlos Forbs with half an hour to go, also suffered a lot. “I don’t know what he came to do today, he just didn’t feel like it. But then stay home. Then call your trainer and say that you cannot bring yourself to give everything for half an hour,” says Vink. “Berghuis was really abysmal, scandalous,” Kenneth Perez also noted.
Vink then sees Josip Sutalo make a rookie mistake. “As a defender, one of the first things you learn is that you should never let your opponent run away on the inside. This should have been the winning goal for Utrecht right away,” said Vink.
Utrecht striker Isac Lidberg ultimately squandered the chance, allowing Sutalo to get away. Three minutes later, the Croat hands the ball in with ease, making it 4-3 for Utrecht. “This is really terrible,” says Vink.
At 4-3, Benjamin Tahirovic also looks very bad. “I don’t know what he has on his back, probably three donkeys. That boy can’t run. He doesn’t coach either. If you can’t manage to run with your opponent, coach Hato to take over. Now they stand there, watch it and lose this game.”