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Valentijn Driessen is surprised by Alex Kroes' current working method at Ajax, he says in the podcast Kickoff. The titular technical director of the Amsterdam team managed to secure Francesco Farioli as the new head coach this week, but Driessen does not understand that decision at all. According to him, the Ajax DNA has completely disappeared due to the appointment of a foreign trainer.
The transition of the Italian coach from OGC Nice to Ajax became official on Thursday evening. He will start working in the Johan Cruijff ArenA from June 11 and has signed a contract until mid-2027.
“I really hope that Farioli is a bull's-eye, but it is really anything but what was proposed by Marijn Beuker, Kelvin de Lang and Alex Kroes,” Driessen begins in the football podcast of The Telegraph. “It's really a ridiculous choice.”
“I really think Farioli will get a chance, but what matters to me is what Ajax has achieved in terms of policy. First they handed themselves over to Alfred Schreuder and his agent, then Mislintat and now to this. It just keeps going on like this. What do they have? (Beuker and Kroes, ed.) now proven? They immediately give everything to Farioli and he has to figure it out. Don't you understand that he will have a lot of power within the selection?
The technical staff of Ajax 1 will be supplemented by assistant coaches Daniele Cavalletto and Felipe Sanchez Mateos, both also coming from OGC Nice, Ajax announced through official channels. Dave Vos is also moved to Farioli's staff. Driessen is very concerned about this.
“Dave Vos is the second assistant, but of course nothing comes of that,” Driessen thinks. “If we sit here with four Italians, we have nothing to say. And where on earth does Jelle ten Rouwelaar come from? Because he worked with Verbruggen on a blue Monday.”
“The entire Ajax DNA has disappeared, which I find very objectionable,” Driessen continues. “Kroes would turn Ajax into Ajax again and there would be no more invasion. But a huge Italian invasion has now taken place in Amsterdam. Where has the Ajax DNA gone? If necessary, take Lasse Schöne away from NEC!”
“There is zero point zero Ajax DNA at the top. Were they in the dressing room during the European Cup semi-final? Zero point zero. It is not without reason that they involve John Bosman and Ronald de Boer in the first team. They know what they are talking about and what the feeling is.”
Mike Verweij predicts that it will be a very tough task for Farioli to get on track at Ajax. “He will soon be in front of that group and a few weeks later the most important match of the season is already scheduled. Namely the match to qualify for the Europa League. And that with a team that cannot even beat Excelsior.” Driessen responds: “It really is a ridiculous choice.”
Initially, Graham Potter was the top candidate to become a trainer in Amsterdam, but both parties could not reach an agreement, after which Farioli was switched. “Kroes said about him (Potter, ed.): 'he is really a people person'. That always makes me so tired,” says Driessen. “Players who have worked with Potter all shout: 'that's an autistic first class'. That is Kroes' judgment.”
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