Injuries at Ajax lead to “realism”

By: Jan | November 4th, 2008

The contrast is telling. Marco van Basten gave his players a day off after the victory over Twente (2-0). Earlier on in the season, Ajax lost against Heerenveen and made the players come back after the match. Some internationals had booked flights out to their countries for international duties; they were told to re-schedule.

What was the difference between the two games? Van Basten: “In Heerenveen there was no cohesion in the team. Against Twente, we played as a unit. I’m proud of them. We miss a couple of players due to injuries, things aren’t going our way really but they managed to put their act together.”

Against Twente, Ajax missed ten players, including the suspended Suarez, who had a hand (foot) in 60% of all Ajax goals till then.

When Ajax misses four starters, the core of the team is hurt and Van Basten will need to come up with significant changes. Klaas Jan Huntelaar admitted: “We played unlike Ajax here. I prefer to play dominant football, but this feels good anyhow. We grab six points against Heracles and Twente with all those injured players. It’s not easy.”

Huntelaar wants to become the champion this season, and he wasn’t dissatisfied with his replacement in the 70st minute, when Evander Sno took his position.

“I was totally empty. Buggered. Twente is a very strong team, they play a fast positioning game and they start at the back, so as a striker you make many miles to disrupt their build up.”

Sno played an excellent last 20 minutes. The strong and tall player was able to hold on to balls and direct the play. And like four days earlier against Heracles, Sno had the decisive assist for the winner.

Midfielder Sno played central striker before, in De Haan’s U21 Oranje team. Van Basten tested the former Feyenoord and Celtic player on that spot in the Ajax B-team and Sno had scored 4 times. He seems to be the ideal targetman, as pinchhitter. A type of player Ajax didn’t have.

Ajax played a tight and tough defensive match against Twente, who appeared to be able to win the game if they’d been more decisive in their final actions.

Ajax was able to keep the naught for the third time in four games since conceding 5 goals against Heerenveen.

Van Basten’s new realism was born out of the many injuries, but it seems to pay dividends…

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