Ajax seek Europa League spot against high-flying AC Milan
The Champions League fixture against AC Milan may prove to be a difficult beginning for Ajax’s new manager, Frank de Boer. It was announced that the club’s former boss, Martin Jol parted ways with the Amsterdam side on 7 December. Jol said he was moving
on because of the high level of stress the club’s management had caused him.
Ajax are currently wallowing in fourth position in the Dutch league table, four points adrift of league leaders PSV Eindhoven. Ajax achieved a miraculous feat last year, when the club were runners up in the Dutch league (conceding the top spot to FC Twente
by a point) and remarkably managed to score a hundred and six goals, which left their goal difference at an astonishing eighty six.
Referring to Ajax’s heroics last year in the Eredivisie, Jol said that he did not expect the club to replicate or equal the record again this season. Jol further revealed that his squad had been facing unwarranted criticism, and that the attacks were endured
daily by his men, which has led to unrest in the club and among players. Jol said he was fully aware of Ajax’s crucial away fixture in the Champions League against Italian heavy weights AC Milan before deciding to leave the Amsterdam Arena, by stating he had
taken the decision consciously in the light of tonight’s match. He bid farewell to Ajax, a club he has managed since May 2009, by voicing his concerns. “The coming weeks are very important and I sincerely hope that something happens in the squad to make it
in the short term a winning team.”
Ajax director Rik van den Boog saluted Martin Jol’s contributions by referring to their fluent form in the last season. He also attributed Ajax’s Champions League qualification to Jol, and praised his coaching skills by saying that Jol has developed many
players.
Another former Holland international has taken over the coaching mantle temporarily at the Amsterdam Arena. Frank De Boer may prove to be a capable boss, as he has had the experience of managing the club’s youth team since 2008. In addition to that, he is
part of the Dutch national team’s managerial staff- as Bert van Marwijk’s assistant coach. Rik van den Boog gave his full confidence to the new manager, by saying, “Frank is a great coach, and he's available immediately.”
The match at the San Siro will be played out primarily third position in the group, and a consolation spot in next season’s Europa League. Group G leaders Real Madrid and AC Milan have already secured their progress to the next round. The bottom two clubs,
Ajax and Auxerre are third and fourth respectively in the group. Ajax have managed to pick up four points from five matches, while Auxerre trail the Dutch side by a point. Real Madrid sit on the summit with an undisputed lead of thirteen points, with AC Milan
in second with eight points.
The Dutch side will be assured of a Europa League spot if they can better or equal Auxerre’s result against Real Madrid tonight.
Ajax lost ground in the Champions League race when they lost 4-0 to Real Madrid in November. AC Milan managed to beat Auxerre by two goals in their previous match, and secured a win in the Italian League against Brescia. As a result, Milan moved to the top
of Serie A with thirty three points. They will be looking to continue their winning form against Ajax in front of their home crowd.
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