Ajax will host FC Volendam in the Eredivisie for the first time under the guidance of John van’t Schip. After experiencing their worst-ever start to a top-flight season, the hosts are astonishingly at the bottom of the table, while the visitors are only two points and two places above them in 16th.
Preview (Ajax vs. FC Volendam)
Ajax stated on Monday, one week after letting go of Maurice Steijn, that John van’t Schip will lead the senior team in an interim capacity through the end of the current campaign before “stepping into a function in technical management from July 1, 2024.” The 59-year-old played for Ajax for over 300 appearances between 1981 and 1992. He is back in management nearly two years after resigning from Greece’s national team manager. His wife, who tragically passed away earlier from cancer, encouraged him to return to coaching.
For the first time since leading just one game as an interim coach in 2009 (a 1-0 victory against FC Twente), Van’t Schip is back at “his club,” Ajax. The Dutch-Canadian will have to right the ship after a catastrophic start to 2023–24. The last two Ajax games across all competitions were managed by assistant coach Hedwiges Maduro. That included last weekend’s humiliating 5-2 loss at PSV Eindhoven. It condemned the Dutch champions to five straight league losses for the first time in their 123-year history.
Bradco van den Boomen and Brian Brobbey’s goals put Ajax ahead 2-1 at the half. It gives them hope for a much-needed win. However, PSV turned the game completely around in the second half. They scored four goals in just 23 minutes to keep up their unbeaten start to the season. Ajax is only focused on getting out of the relegation zone, despite having played two fewer league games than PSV. The Amsterdam giants are remarkably 25 points behind their rivals from Eindhoven at the top of the table. While winning against Volendam on Thursday will undoubtedly be cheered on by Ajax fans. Getting the maximum number of points may not be enough to lift them out of the bottom three just yet.
Team News
Due to injuries, Ajax goalkeeper Jay Gorter and defender Devin Rensch will be sidelined for at least a few weeks. Geronimo Rulli, Sivert Mannsverk, and Amourricho van Axel Dongen are also in the treatment area. Due to injuries, Carlos Forbs and Borna Sosa missed the team’s loss against PSV last weekend. However, they should be able to make a comeback to the matchday roster on Thursday. The former hoping to start at left flank and the latter possibly playing at left back. For his debut game in charge, Van’t Schip probably will make a few changes, with Jacob Medic, Benjamin Tahirovic, Silvano Vos, Georges Mikautadze, and Chub Akpom all vying for a spot in the starting lineup.
Koen Blommestijn, Luke Le Roux, Brian Plat, Joey Antonioli, and Robin Maulun are all nursing ailments for Volendam, and skipper Xavier Mbuyamba is questionable for Thursday’s match after missing last weekend’s victory against Excelsior owing to sickness. In the event that Mbuyamba is out, Josh Flint and Benamar could continue at center back, with both George Cox and Ottar Buur likely to hold down full-back positions. Kohler is unlikely to make many changes to his starting lineup. De Haan, Damin Mirani, and Calvin Twigt form a three-man attack in center midfield.
Van’t Schip will be eager to establish his mark at Ajax and have an instant impact, but given Volendam’s current run of form, victory on Thursday is not guaranteed. Goals are likely in this matchup because both sides have been weak defensively thus far this season and have scored in each of their previous five encounters. However, we think Volendam will cling on for a draw in Amsterdam.
Ajax 2 – 2 FC Volendam
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