Francesco Farioli brought Ajax back to the top, but also leaves the club in confusion after a year

It is almost the perfect performance of how coach Francesco Farioli wants to play with Ajax. At the end of March, out at PSV, Ajax checks the top duel in long phases. Against the team with unmistakably the most attacking class, it gives little away. Ajax wins 2-0 and hits a gap of nine points with seven more rounds to go. The title fight seems decided. With the player tunnel, directors Alex Kroes and Marijn Beuker congratulate the players. Some, including keeper Matheus, are embraced.

With retroactive effect, that peak is also the beginning of the decay. Fararoli is soon worried. In the euphoria the news is almost disappearing, but the injury of central defender Youri Baas is a major setback for the Italian. Baas is the leader of the defense, puts players in place, is crucial in the structure. Where Josip Sutalo, the other central defender, communicates little. The fact that goalkeeper Remko Pasveer has been eliminated for some time makes the problems greater: he is also important with his coaching. His replacement, the Brazilian Matheus, hardly speaks English.

It is not his only care. Fararoli does not show anything outside, but the collaboration with technical director Alex Kroes is constantly getting stiffer. This is not only due to disagreements about what the selection should look like, but is also about the playing method and the top sport culture on the De Toekomst training complex.

Financial limitations

The first burst in confidence is already created in the summer. Faroli understands the financial limitations with which Kroes has to do and accepts the departure of offside players Steven Bergwijn (Sales) and Carlos Forbs (rental).

The fact that the arrival of a replacement (Kamaldeen Sulemana) does not go ahead because Ajax does not submit the paperwork on time, is more difficult to accept, confirms a confidant of the coach.

Even in the winter, the gap that has arisen is only partly and richly collected: Oliver Edvardsen, a winger without the desired depth, will be the second left winger behind Mika Godts at the beginning of February.

With a view to next season, FAROLI wants the sloping contracts of goalkeeper Pasveer and midfielder Davy Klaassen to be extended. With these two experienced players, he hopes to be able to maintain the structure of the team. However, it is still unclear whether Kroes will extend their contracts – Pasveer recently said that he has not heard from the club management for months.

The playing method of Farioli – aimed at defensive control and result – also ensures internal pair. Faroli is of the opinion that with the current selection, largely the same team that experienced a dramatic season last season and finished fifth in the Eredivisie, cannot play dominant and attacking. In the Ajax top they think differently about that. Danny Blind, ‘football technical’ Commissioner at Ajax, show Last week as an analyst at Ziggo Sport particularly critical of the game showed under Farioli. « If you look at the entire season, it has been very brittle. »

In an explanation of the departure of Farioli, Kroes said on Monday afternoon that he spoke with Farioli about the goal for the coming season. The message to the trainer: « If we are 1-0 against a mid-engine, don’t change a striker for a midfielder to pull the result over the line. » According to Kroes, Faroli agreed. « But then he had to have the players before, he said. » And that is precisely where the hesitation is with the trainer.

Tack

At Farioli there are major doubts about the strategy for the coming season. Because of the Champions League qualification, with which Ajax is certain of around 50 million euros in income, he had the hope that the club would take a step forward. More the reality is that Ajax has to cut back considerably.

Kroes makes Faroli clear that Ajax can reinvest only 40 percent of the money that comes in. At the same time, it is obvious that supporting forces such as Jordan Henderson, Kenneth Taylor and Jorrel Hato leave. Unnecessary players who have been rented are returning.

This message leads to frustration at Farioli, who fears that this summer he will have to start again with a high -quality selection, while expectations have grown due to the performance of this season. « I want to continue building, not taking four or five steps back, » the coach said on Monday afternoon in a conversation with the writing press. Kroes: « He wanted faster than I could. »

After the away match against FC Groningen (2-2) on Wednesday, in which Ajax waste the lead on PSV, Fararoli sends an app to Kroes and general director Menno Geelen. He wants to be with them on Thursday morning. In that conversation he says that he seriously doubts whether he wants to go to Ajax.

Kroes says he tries to change his mind. But after the last league match on Sunday against FC Twente (2-0), from the emotional response of Farioli to players and the public it becomes clear to everyone that the coach has made his decision.

He has changed a lot at Ajax in a short time. When Faroli started eleven months ago, the walls at the training complex were the future ‘white’ and ‘there was little life in it,’ Faroli said on Sunday after the victory at FC Twente. « We asked to paint it again and to apply a little color. »

He was obsessive with Ajax, made a team of a team that had fallen apart a year earlier. He brought Ajax back to the Dutch top, performed far beyond expectations. « My priority was to leave here better than when I arrived, » he says on Monday afternoon. « I think that was successful. » But after one season he also leaves Ajax in confusion.

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