Ajax host Europa League leaders Lazio in Amsterdam tonight, and while the visitors arrive in fierce form, Francesco Farioli’s team look to turn themselves around after two disappointing matches against FC Utrecht and AZ Alkmaar respectively.
In the two matches, that ended 2-2 and 2-1, Brian Brobbey had to settle for a place on the bench. However, the 22-year-old is expected to start against the Romans. Farioli praised his striker at the pre-Lazio press conference.
“Brobbey is in the fittest phase of his Ajax career.”
When presented with the remarkable win percentage for his side when Brobbey starts (86%), Farioli continued. “The data also shows that he can play a lot of minutes, at high intensity. We know how decisive he is, I don’t need those kinds of figures for that.”
“If I have to come in, I feel good anyway. I feel okay and mentally very fresh,” says Brobbey himself about that.
A main theme of the warm-up press conference was the fitness of the selection. Farioli, however, did not want to hear anything more about the word ‘tired’.
“Anyone who talks about that will get a fine. So I will not use that word anymore.”
Still aware to the issue, however, the Italian boss carried on: “Unfortunately, we cannot give anyone time off because we play every two days. We have to find the energy and motivation from within.”
On the statuses of Jordan Henderson, Mika Godts and Devyne Rensch, Farioli hinted. “They are all OK, so they will be there on Thursday.”
