The dream week of Ajax is complete. After the victory against Feyenoord on Wednesday, Francesco Farioli’s team defeated also the leader PSV: 3-2. In a sizzling match at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Ajax earned more, much more, than three points. For those who still had doubts after Wednesday´s game against Feyenoord: Ajax is back.
At the bottom of the Eredivisie
On 2 November 2023, Ajax were at the bottom of the Eredivisie, 25 points behind PSV. On Saturday evening, exactly a year later, the Amsterdammers defeated the same PSV in an impressive way and put the front-runner in the Eredivisie rankings. In four days, Ajax convincingly overtook his two main rivals. Not by a lucky goal in the last minute, but really by enforcing it yourself.
On Wednesday, Ajax already impressed in De Kuip, mainly because of the strong organization and the ability to give almost nothing away. At the ball it was not spectacularly good in Rotterdam and of course the Amsterdammers there were helped by two flaters from Timon Wellenreuther.
The victory over PSV was even better in that respect. The Eindhoven team were tactically better prepared for the match plan of Ajax. Peter Bosz opted for many position changes, to confuse the couples of the home team. Moreover, PSV naturally has more individual quality and scoring ability. For example, Ajax swallowed two particularly handsome goals from Luuk de Jong and Ivan Perisic and there were still a number of threatening moments.
The difference with the game against Feyenoord was the level that Ajax himself achieved in possession. With the help of Jordan Henderson, the Amsterdammers regularly managed to find a way to play under the high pressure of PSV. If it wasn’t in there, the falling long ball on striker Brian Brobbey offered a solution.
Peter Bosz realistic after the defeat
“Ajax has rightly won, with us it was just not good enough today”, concluded Peter Bosz afterwards. In total, Ajax came up to 21 goal attempts against the normally so defensively sovereign PSV. That’s four more than in any other PSV Eredivisie match since Bosz started in the summer of 2023. Especially in the last half hour Ajax was very threatening and the score could have been even higher.
The fact that Ajax was able to push the accelerator in this way during this final phase also proved Farioli’s right and his rotation policy. His team had completed an intensive fight with Feyenoord in the middle weeks, but still looked fitter and sharper than PSV.
Tuesday Champions League for PSV
This defeat of PSV ultimately does not come out badly for Bosz, because next Tuesday the important Champions League game against Girona is at stake.
The Dutch competition has become a lot more exciting after the return of Ajax on the highest stage. If PSV had won, the difference with Ajax would have become 8 points, and PSV would almost be champion.