Sofyan Amrabat remains confident in AFC Ajax's abilities despite an inconsistent start to the season. The midfielder spoke after a run of draws about the need to improve quickly and close the five-point gap to league leaders Feyenoord. The team currently sits fourth in the Eredivisie with 18 points from nine games, with five wins, three draws and one loss.

Amrabat, who has made five appearances this term, gave his assessment following the 1-1 draw with NEC Nijmegen. "Five points is not insignificant, but it is not an insurmountable gap either," said the international. He added that the team must stay positive and keep working hard. "We are creating a huge number of chances, but we have to start taking them." Amrabat stated.

Season so far

Ajax sit fourth in the Eredivisie after nine match rounds with 18 points. The team has shown a pattern of dominance without securing wins, resulting in draws against Heerenveen, Excelsior and NEC, all at home. The 5-1 victory over Willem II and the 1-5 away win at Fortuna Sittard demonstrate their attacking potential. Recent form has been mixed, with two wins, two draws and one defeat in the last five outings. The latest results were a 2-5 win at Groningen, a 2-1 defeat at HNK Hajduk Split, a 1-1 draw with NEC Nijmegen, a 2-2 draw with Excelsior and a 5-1 win over Willem II. In total, Ajax have scored 27 goals this season while conceding 12.

The squad under head coach Michel Sanchez, who arrived in the summer, underwent significant renewal with twelve new signings. Some joined late and missed a full pre-season, a factor Amrabat acknowledged. "We just have to remain a team," he stated.

Looking ahead

Attention now turns to the upcoming away fixture against Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday 25 October. Sparta currently sit 13th in the standings. Ajax are coming off an impressive 2-5 win at FC Groningen, where Julian Brandt scored twice and Jorthy Mokio netted a brace. In that match, Aaron Bouwman also found the net. Top scorer T. Arokodare has four goals to his name this campaign from seven appearances. Amrabat concluded with a message to the fans: "You just have to stay positive, keep working hard, and keep the faith. I also want to thank the fans for the fantastic support."

The report in full is at roundtable.io