Maurice Steijn assesses Ajax’s performance on Thursday in the play-offs of the Europa League against Ludogorets (0-1) as ‘very mediocre’. Although the trainer reached the group stage with his team, the field game offered no perspective at all. “The only positive thing about tonight is that we are through,” says Steijn in front of the camera Ziggo Sport.
The number of shots on target by Ajax was all-important for the match: zero. “The difference between this match and the previous one (1-4 win, ed.) Was huge,” said the coach. “In everything. Brian Brobbey couldn’t walk it up front, so we tried to turn it around a bit. It got a bit better, but after Carlos Forbs dropped out it really got less. Then we also had less threat in depth. It was just very mediocre overall.”
‘I am happy with all the new players, but it remains to be seen whether they have the qualities we ascribe to them’ ????? Maurice Steijn reflects on the defeat against Ludogorets.. ??#ZiggoSport #UEL #AJALUD pic.twitter.com/CbhfA4eYHO
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Steijn insisted on new players with Dutch nationality at director of football affairs Sven Mislintat, but only got Branco van den Boomen. The other ten purchases all have a foreign nationality. Forging a unity of this is, according to Steijn, ‘hard work’. “That is clear. That is also one of the tasks of a coach. Of course it is also annoying that three or four players are still not there. Fortunately, they will be there on Sunday. That gives us some more options.”
Steijn was careful in advance that the purchases made by director of football affairs Sven Mislintat are not fully in line with his vision. Afterwards, the coach of Ajax is asked if he is satisfied with the transfer summer. “In any case, we have filled the positions that were open,” it sounds politically correct. “I am certainly happy with the players, but it remains to be seen whether they have the qualities. For some that is also a question mark for me, for some it is not. Some of them certainly have the desired qualities. We also have that very hard necessary, that is clear.”
Ajax was clearly not yet playing in its strongest formation, says Steijn. “There are some guys who are forced to play, while I think there are better options on the way. But these guys have to show me that they are ready too. Some haven’t.” For example, top acquisition Josip Sutalo was missing on Thursday, who came over from Dinamo Zagreb for at least twenty million euros. Sutalo is expected to take over the position at Fortuna Sittard on Sunday from Jakov Medic, who played disappointingly again.