For Ajax, last season was one of the worst in recent memory. The 2023/24 term marked a significant fall from the Amsterdam club’s usual high standards. In fact, it was their lowest league finish in 24 years, and also saw their joint-lowest point total in 30 years.
Defensively, Ajax were all over the place – conceding a staggering 61 goals, the highest since the 1958/59 season. Moreover, lacking the offensive quality to counteract this – they suffered their lowest scoring campaign in four seasons.
Finishing fifth was a great result considering an ever-changing conveyor belt of interims and replacements, and the Europa League could prove to be a suitable continental challenge for this recovering team to test themselves with. However, it shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all for the capital side.
Last season’s position: 5th
Transfers In: Jorthy Mokio (Gent), Bertrand Traore (Villareal)
Transfers Out: Francisco Conceicao (Porto), Tom de Graaff (Utrecht), Georges Mikautadze (Metz), Jorge Sanchez (Cruz Azul), Gabriel Misehouy (Girona)
Overview: Ultimately, with their new boss acquired from Nice in Ligue 1, Ajax are looking to bounce back from their lacklustre form last season. Not to rub salt in last term’s wounds, yet Ajax lost a number of key fixtures – especially at home. The Amsterdam club were defeated by both Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, with the former smashing four goals past them. Even worse, perhaps, was the 6-0 trouncing at De Kuip as the team from the capital often looked bereft.
Results like these, along with avoidable draws against the likes of PEC Zwolle, NEC Nijmegen, and Fortuna Sittard (again all at home) display that the level of the league has risen consistently, and if Ajax don’t adapt like they’re trying to now, then they will pay the price.
This also stretched over into the KNVB Cup, as the record 20-times champions crashed out in the second round to USV Hercules of the Derde Divisie. Not to suggest that it was particularly rife, but Ajax can have no time for complacency this term, and a comfort will be that the young signings of last year in Sutalo, Hlynsson, and Carlos Forbs among a few can bed in further and offer more going onwards – especially with injected experience with the signing of Bertrand Traore. He adds to a solid experienced core that sees Steven Bergwijn, Chuba Akpom and more, lead the team. Presumably, Jordan Henderson could have a big part to play if Ajax are requiring more of an on-pitch voice.
New coach Farioli has some work to do to get Ajax back among the big clubs in the division, and spoke of the season’s challenge upon his appointment in May:
“We want to reconnect with the DNA of the club, aiming to bring new energy with a positive way of working and thinking.
“I’m aware that there is a lot of work to do, but we have already begun preparing.
“We don’t want to waste any time getting ready for the new season and bringing Ajax back to where it belongs.”
