Míchel Sánchez delivered a positive medical update ahead of the home match against Excelsior. The AFC Ajax manager stated his squad is well recovered from Tuesday's efforts, which saw them beat Willem II 5-1.
"The physical condition of the group is good," Míchel said at the press conference. "We are well recovered from Tuesday." That victory helped Ajax maintain fourth place in the Eredivisie, with thirteen points from six games. The team now sits three points behind leaders PSV. Recent form is excellent, with four wins in the last five league matches. In that run, the team scored fourteen goals, an average of nearly three per game.
However, the coach will not have a full squad at his disposal. Four players remain unavailable for Saturday's fixture. Daley Blind is still sidelined long-term. Aaron Bouwman and Simon Adingra are also not yet fit. Yves Bissouma was not cleared in time to be eligible for this match. Míchel indicated that several players did return to training this week but need more time.
The manager was pleased with the performance against Willem II. "We played a good match and the players had the right mindset, both offensively and defensively," he explained. He believes it is important to build on that foundation. The coming weeks offer an opportunity, as an international break follows the Excelsior game. This ambition stems from an internal analysis showing that this points total is typically sufficient for a top three finish.
Míchel said this break is longer than usual and beneficial for the recovery of some players. The squad will have a few days off before the next block of the season begins. The coaching staff will use the time to work further on tactical elements. First up, however, is the match against Excelsior, who are seventh in the table. Fans can check the full squad and current standings on our site. Ajax hopes to finish the first period of the season with a win.
The report in full is at Voetbal International
