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While many Ajax players are off on international duty, the manager stayed behind in Amsterdam. With the ‘third period’ of the season now concluded, Erik ten Hag sat down with Ajax TV for a lengthy interview. He addressed his recent trip to Switzerland, the current state of Ajax’ football, and his never-ending strive for perfection.
Last week Erik ten Hag attended UEFA’s Elite Coaches Forum along with the likes of Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane. He was willing to shed some light on what was discussed among Europe’s top managers. “We talked about the game itself, of course, exchanging idea’s and tactics. But we also discussed the refereeing and the rules of football, as well as the problems of congested match calendars,” he revealed.
Ten Hag did not feel especially flattered to be invited, as he considered the invitation to be a compliment to the entire team, not to him personally. “Last season we managed to do something extraordinary. It’s clear to see that Ajax gained a lot of appreciation and respect, and this invitation is one of the many results of that. Both the team and individual players have won prizes and awards because of that recognition for last season.” Still, he can not deny that he personally has been receiving a lot of plaudits for his work at Ajax, and that multiple clubs are said to be after his signature. Ten Hag is not one to get carried away, however. “Compliments are nice, but they don’t matter at the end of the season, only prizes do. As a manager, I make a thousand decisions every day. I want to improve on those decisions and grow as a manager, so I do a lot of reflection myself. I keep the focus on what is important,” said the always-levelheaded coach.
Many of the other attendees were interested to hear from Erik ten Hag about how he manages this Ajax team, while he was enjoying the company of Klopp and Guardiola, whose football he greatly admires. “But we have to realize where we stand in the world of football,” he warned. “These people did not see our first half against FC Utrecht. They still do not watch the Eredivisie at all. The Champions League, that’s what it’s all about. These hugely professional managers will never speak disrespectfully about the Eredivisie, but they will never watch it either. It does not come close to the Premier League or La Liga. But they have seen us play Lille, Valencia and Chelsea.”
With the loss of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Lasse Schöne, the club was forced to say goodbye to three starters over the course of the summer. Many people were amazed to see how well the team handled the changes, and how well this Ajax is functioning. Erik ten Hag, on the other hand, was not surprised. “I had full confidence in this squad at the start of the season. We put a lot of thought into its composition over the summer, and the team is now well balanced. As you go along the campaign you start to see more and more of a connection between the players, both on and off the pitch. That connection is starting to pay off in matches, which is a beautiful thing to see.”
It is difficult to compare the Ajax of today to the record-winning side of last season since it’s only November, and this Ajax essentially hasn’t accomplished anything yet. But some of the pundits and fans have suggested that Ajax could match, or even improve on last season with the current squad. Ten Hag is careful around these expectations. “I do think it might be more difficult for the opposition to defend against us this season. With the addition of Promes, there is now even more movement and dynamics in our attack, which can catch defenders by surprise. The defence is still the foundation of our team, however. We need to have 100% discipline in the back, as we had against Feyenoord and FC Utrecht, in order to attack like that.” The manager is hoping that the best is yet to come. “Last season the team was good before the winter break, but it really flourished in the spring. We have yet to experience that development this season, and this will demand a lot of effort from us.”
‘Period three’, as the Ajax technical staff call it, started with a difficult win away at RKC and ended with an absolute show at home against FC Utrecht. Ten Hag looks back, largely satisfied. “We’ve made big steps in developing our play over the course of this period, so I’m content in that respect. In terms of results, we have had some disappointments in the Champions League against Chelsea. We have to leave those results behind us and realize that we are still on the right path. We need results in the matches ahead, against Lille and Valencia.”
Those matches are not far away, as period four is right around the corner. After the upcoming match against Heracles, Ajax will have to make do without Blind, Veltman and Neres in Lille. The preparations to that managerial puzzle are already being made. “From the very start of the season, we have been drilling our players with principles and ideas to prepare them for important games. That means every player, including those who will step in against Lille, is well-equipped to play.”
Period four includes five league games, one of which the away fixture against runner-ups AZ, two crucial Champions League games, and the second round of the KNVB Cup. A new period means new goals for Erik ten Hag. “At least one of my goals for the upcoming matches is to try and maintain that high intensity we have been showing for the full 90 minutes. Even though one half of high-level football might be enough against FC Utrecht, we know that if we want to reach far in the Champions League once again, we’re gonna need the full 90 minutes.” When asked if this is a realistic goal, ten Hag responds with conviction. “Yes. But the most important goal will always be to win. Win every game.”