Valentijn Driessen has in The Telegraph not a good word to say about John van ‘t Schip’s choices. The Ajax coach started on Thursday in the Europa League match against Brighton & Hove Albion (0-2 loss) with an extremely young midfield and ultimately had to pay for this with his first defeat. The 0-1 was led by a huge mistake by Silvano Vos.
Driessen thought Van ‘t Schip appeared naive after two victories in the Eredivisie against FC Volendam and SC Heerenveen. “They can be forgiven if supporters do not see through that, but you expect more of a sense of reality from a head coach and his coaching staff,” the football chief is critical.
Van ‘t Schip started, partly due to the absence of Branco van den Boomen, with a very young midfield, consisting of Kenneth Taylor, Kristian Hlynsson and Vos. The latter handed the ball in to Simon Adingra after fifteen minutes of play, who enabled Ansu Fati to open the scoring.
“Although they all have the Ajax DNA, they are still boys at international level. Not even good enough to break ground in the sub-top of the Eredivisie,” says Driessen about Ajax’s midfield. “Despite Brighton’s meager series, Van ‘t Schip’s position and game plan showed pride and overestimation.”
Chuba Akpom and Georges Mikautadze have also not yet managed to convince Driessen. “The enthusiasm from the stands for the two attackers is difficult to place. Because Van ‘t Schip, after Maurice Steijn and Hedwiges Maduro, is the third Ajax coach in four months who does not see either as a basic player.”
Ajax performed better in its own Johan Cruijff ArenA than two weeks ago in England, but could not prevent defeat for the first time under the new coach. “Van ‘t Schip will have to start from scratch again on Sunday against Almere City FC,” Driessen concludes.
Finally, Brighton does not have to count on words of praise from Driessen. “Brighton & Hove Albion is not a high-flyer. Of the last nine matches, only two were won by the team of the often overly praised coach Roberto De Zerbi: both times against Ajax. That in itself is significant.”