Ronald de Boer questions whether Viktor Tsygankov can add pace to Ajax’s attack
Ajax’s attacking speed has become a talking point ahead of their Conference League meeting with Atalanta, with former midfielder Ronald de Boer questioning whether Viktor Tsygankov has the explosiveness to solve a problem he sees across Míchel Sánchez’s team. The Ukrainian winger was named among the substitutes for Thursday’s match, and De Boer said his early impressions had fallen short of expectations.
Speaking on Ziggo Sport before kick-off, the former Netherlands international praised Tsygankov’s technical quality but expressed doubt about his ability to consistently beat defenders with speed. His comments also highlighted a broader concern for Ajax: when opponents lose possession, the Amsterdam side may not have enough rapid attackers to turn those moments into dangerous counter-attacks.
Ajax’s lack of speed in attack under scrutiny
De Boer compared Ajax’s attacking options with the explosive movement he had recently seen in Paris Saint-Germain’s match against Barcelona. For him, that kind of acceleration can transform a team’s threat, particularly when space opens behind an opponent’s defensive line. He believes Ajax currently lack enough players capable of making that sort of run.
“If you look at Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona, you see genuine, outright pace,” De Boer said. “That’s what I miss at Ajax.” He argued that several of Ajax’s attacking players are not naturally quick, meaning the side cannot always rely on a direct burst of speed to unsettle defenders.
De Boer pointed to Marcos Leonardo and Gloukh as examples of players whose strengths do not primarily lie in acceleration. He also noted that Brandt or Klaassen may operate on the right, depending on the selection, while the full-backs are expected to provide width and forward movement. However, he cautioned that the team’s defenders are not necessarily the kind of players who can repeatedly sprint past opponents and supply the missing attacking pace.
The issue is more than a matter of style. Speed can be decisive in modern football because it allows teams to exploit disorganisation immediately after winning the ball. A quick forward can force defenders to retreat, create room for supporting midfielders and turn a routine turnover into a clear scoring opportunity. Without that threat, Ajax may need to build attacks more patiently and depend on technical combinations to break down a settled defence.
De Boer expected more explosiveness from Tsygankov
Tsygankov appeared to De Boer as a possible answer to Ajax’s need for a more direct threat. The winger has a reputation for quality on the ball and a dangerous left foot, but De Boer said he had not yet seen enough evidence that the Ukrainian can regularly hurt opponents through pace.
“I thought Tsygankov was quick too, but that’s been disappointing,” he said. “He has a wonderful left foot, but it’s not as if you think he can hurt opponents with his pace as well.” The assessment was not a dismissal of Tsygankov’s ability. Rather, it reflected the difference between technical skill and the ability to accelerate past a defender or attack open space at full speed.
That distinction could matter in Ajax’s upcoming fixtures. Against teams that press high or leave space behind their back line, a fast winger can offer a direct outlet and give the side a way to advance quickly. Against a compact defence, Tsygankov’s left foot and creativity may still be valuable, but Ajax could need sharper movement around him to create clear openings.
Counter-attacking threat could be crucial against Atalanta
De Boer said Ajax can sometimes win possession because an opponent makes a careless mistake. Those moments, he argued, must be followed by quick, purposeful attacking play. If Ajax cannot get runners beyond the defence, the opposition may have time to recover its shape and reduce the danger.
“Sometimes you win the ball because the opposition give it away carelessly, and then you have to be able to hurt them,” he said. “That ability to get in behind is what I miss in this Ajax side.” His point is especially relevant against Atalanta, whom he considers a stronger opponent than Groningen, the team Ajax had previously handled well.
Atalanta’s quality makes the margin for error smaller. Ajax may have less time to organise attacks and could need to take advantage of transitions when they arise. The match therefore offers a useful test of whether the team can compensate for a perceived shortage of pace through intelligent positioning, quick passing and coordinated forward runs.
De Boer also mentioned the absence of injured winger Simon Adingra, another player he had hoped might provide speed. His injury leaves Ajax with fewer options for stretching the pitch and attacking the space behind defenders. That could influence Míchel’s selection and the way Ajax approach the game, particularly if they look to use their full-backs to add width.
Kieft raises fitness concerns and points to Berghuis
Former Ajax striker Wim Kieft also questioned Tsygankov’s current contribution, while acknowledging that the Ukrainian has produced impressive performances in the past. Kieft said he had seen the winger do “truly wonderful things” before, but added that those displays had not yet been repeated in Amsterdam.
Kieft suggested that Tsygankov may not have arrived fully fit, a factor that could help explain why his influence has been limited. Fitness can affect more than a player’s top speed: it can also shape how often they make high-intensity runs, how quickly they recover and whether they can maintain their sharpness over a full match. If that is part of the problem, a gradual improvement in condition could change the picture.
He also raised the question of how Míchel might use the right-wing position once Steven Berghuis is available again. Kieft described a fit Berghuis as immensely valuable to Ajax, leaving the manager with a selection decision between experience, creativity and the pace or directness offered by other options. The choice could depend on the opponent and whether Ajax need to control possession or attack space quickly.
Can Ajax’s football compensate for a lack of pace?
Despite his concerns, De Boer sees positives in Ajax’s overall play. He believes strong team football can help make up for a shortage of individual speed, particularly when the side moves the ball quickly, finds players between the lines and keeps its attacking shape connected.
Ajax showed that approach against Groningen, according to De Boer, but he warned that the Atalanta test is different. In his view, the Italian side is a stronger opponent and is likely to punish slow transitions or misplaced passes more effectively. Ajax may therefore need both technical control and greater urgency whenever an opportunity to attack appears.
The debate around Tsygankov is unlikely to be settled by one appearance, especially while questions remain about his fitness and match rhythm. Still, the Conference League clash offers a significant opportunity for Ajax to show how they can create danger against a higher-level opponent. Whether through Tsygankov’s left foot, Berghuis’s creativity, forward runs from elsewhere or faster collective passing, the team will need a clear attacking plan.
For Ajax supporters following the football prediction and match analysis surrounding the fixture, the key question is not simply whether one winger is fast. It is whether Míchel can build enough movement and speed into the team as a whole. Against Atalanta, Ajax’s ability to exploit transitions could prove just as important as their possession game.
