Ajax head coach Francesco Farioli stated that the tension surrounding the Eredivisie title race is ‘not on Ajax’ as they prepare to face PSV on Sunday.
Currently at the top of the league, Ajax will be playing away against second-placed and reigning champions PSV, who trail Ajax by six points. This match could be pivotal for their title aspirations. However, during a press conference on Friday, Farioli downplayed the significance of the encounter in terms of the championship battle.
“Not in the slightest. It’s an important match, one of the most significant in the league,” commented Farioli. “The truth is there are still 24 points to play for.”
“My approach and the focus we put into every game… We treat teams at both the top and bottom of the league with the same respect. I aim to give due regard to every opponent.”
Ajax previously held an 8-point lead before their last Eredivisie match, which ended in a 2-2 draw against AZ. As they have in multiple instances this season, Ajax appeared to falter against the opponents’ high press. Farioli, however, disagreed with that assessment, stating, “Did you think our performance against AZ was poor? I actually found it quite positive. We created the clearest opportunities.”
“We will have to adopt different strategies against PSV. Our duty is to respond appropriately to their tactics, balancing that with the principles we’ve consistently upheld this season, paying close attention to the finer details.”
Ajax will miss several key players due to injuries, including striker Wout Weghorst, goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, and midfielder Youri Regeer. Farioli expressed particular frustration over Weghorst’s situation: “He underwent scans every three days to monitor his recovery. The process turned out to be longer than expected, but he did everything he could.”
Right-back Anton Gaaei will also be absent on Sunday after his red card against AZ. Brazilian Lucas Rosa may step in for him, but Farioli was cautious not to confirm him as the starter just yet: “We’ve got several options. Other players could also slot into that position. Lucas is certainly one of them.”
“There are numerous players who can step up. Kian (Fitz-Jim) has already played in that position, and Kenneth (Taylor) could also take on a new role,” Farioli joked.
Focus on Progress
At 35, Farioli took over as Ajax manager last summer after a season where the club finished 35 points behind PSV. Many did not anticipate Ajax would be contending for the title so soon. Farioli is open about the fact that winning the championship was never the goal for this season, admitting he would be content with a second-place finish.
“I had an engaging discussion, including with Alex (Kroes), about the season’s review yesterday. We emphasised that our priority is to get the club back into the Champions League, ideally finishing in the top two, which is what the club requested of me at the season’s outset.”
Despite this, Farioli affirmed that merely drawing against PSV won’t be enough. “It’s tempting to draw parallels with past seasons and previous managers and players, but the reality is we have come from a campaign where there was a 35-point gap to PSV.”
“We’ve lost 5 to 6 starters during this time. It has been quite the journey, and we will approach this match with great focus and desire in order to achieve the best possible result.”
Ajax face PSV following a challenging spell that has seen them drop from the top position, managing only three wins in nine league fixtures. Nevertheless, Farioli recognised their achievements, stating, “I hold a great deal of respect for this club, acknowledging that they are the Eredivisie champions. They boast an impressive squad with over 25 high-calibre players and a very experienced manager. They have my utmost respect.”
Nonetheless, the Italian was clear regarding the current pressure dynamics. “Right now, the pressure is certainly not on Ajax.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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