AFC Ajax started the new season with a 1-3 defeat to champions PSV at the Johan Cruijff Arena. Despite a thorough summer overhaul of the squad, the details proved decisive against the titleholders on Saturday evening.
The Amsterdam club now sits fourth in the Eredivisie after three matchdays with seven points, five points behind leaders AZ Alkmaar. They have scored eight goals and conceded two, giving them a +6 goal difference. The next challenge is an away fixture against FC Twente on November 8th, as listed on the fixtures page.
How did the match against PSV unfold?
PSV took the lead as early as the fourth minute. After a cross from Armando Obispo and Ivan Perisic, Ruben van Bommel headed the ball back for Ricardo Pepi to slot home for 1-0. Ajax equalized through new loanee Tolu Arokodare, who beat goalkeeper Matej Kovar. Just before halftime, Lutsharel Geertruida put PSV back ahead from a corner. In the closing stages, substitute Esmir Bajraktarević made it 3-1 definitive. It was PSV's first win at the Arena since autumn 2022.
Head coach Míchel Sánchez was positive about his team's performance after the match, but not about the result. "The only negative thing about this match is the result," the Spaniard said, according to NRC Sport. He emphasized that his team fought until the end and could compete with PSV for large parts of the game.
What did the summer transfer window mean for Ajax?
Technical director Jordi Cruijff oversaw a radical change of the squad. Eleven new players arrived, including German international Julian Brandt and experienced goalkeeper Marc ter Stegen from FC Barcelona. Loanees like Tolu Arokodare and Simon Andringa were also brought in. Cruijff described the loan strategy as a 'safer bet'. "With a player on loan, you have a year to look at him before you make a decision. That is much safer," he explained. He wanted players who could contribute immediately, not in one or three years' time.
This approach differed from Ajax's traditional policy of investing in young talent. This summer also saw several players around or over thirty arrive. Simultaneously, Mika Godts, Sean Steur, Josip Sutalo and Ko Itakura departed for substantial fees. Cruijff called this first transfer window under his leadership 'a step in the right direction'.
Where does Ajax stand in the league now?
The defeat to PSV shows there is still work to do, despite the new players. Ajax now has seven points from three matches, with two wins and a draw. The defense, featuring Caio Henrique and Youri Baas from the start, has conceded only two goals so far. The attacking trio of Steven Berghuis, Oscar Gloukh and the scoring Arokodare must find more consistency, however.
The current fourth place and the five-point gap to the top can be followed in the standings. The coming weeks are important to close in on the leaders, ahead of the away game against eighth-placed FC Twente. The full squad, including the new signings, is available on the squad page.
Míchel Sánchez now has time to further develop his heavily renewed team. The next league match is on November 8th in Enschede.
