Ajax coach John van 't Schip has thrown the identity of the Amsterdam club overboard against AZ (2-0 defeat), according to Valentijn Driessen in his column on behalf of The Telegraph. According to the journalist, Van 't Schip must be careful after his change to the system. “Anyone who denies the corporate identity as a trainer in Amsterdam can easily die.”

Driessen does not understand why Van 't Schip started with five defenders against AZ. “Van 't Schip, the former graceful right winger of Ajax, did not send his team into the field in a 4-3-3 formation, but cursed loudly in the church in Alkmaar with a 5-4-1 system without wingers. ”

“At first glance, Van 't Schip thus insulted Johan Cruijff, his former teacher, longtime trainer, once friend, supporter and rock. The legendary number 14 is the founder of the Ajax identity and, as a columnist for De Telegraaf, once chased coach Martin Jol out the back door because he had the audacity to squander Ajax's cultural heritage.”

According to Driessen, it is not inconceivable that Ajax will start with five defenders more often. “Even if Berghuis and/or Bergwijn are available again. Most of the failure purchases made by the departed director of football affairs Sven Mislintat feel at home in it.” Driessen saw two of these purchases in particular fail.

“Although players like Borna Sosa and Anton Gaaei proved that even in their favorite system they lack the qualities to add value at the level of AZ – Ajax,” said the journalist. Van 't Schip took the failing Gaaei off after just 36 minutes on Sunday.

Financial consequences

According to Driessen, the defeat has left Ajax with new competitors: Go Ahead Eagles, NEC Nijmegen and FC Utrecht. The journalist thinks that the Amsterdam team will no longer overtake both FC Twente and AZ, which will also have consequences for the record champion on the transfer market.

“The dire financial situation and missing the Champions League means that Ajax will not be able to spend unbridled money on the transfer market next summer,” said Driessen. “Selling will come before buying and it is serious to imagine that money will be cut for transfers above ten million euros.”

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