Looking at the Eredivisie standings, you would be forgiven for thinking that Ajax are miles off the top of the table, and reigning champions PSV Eindhoven who have once again hit the ground running.
However, PSV have played nine games compared to Ajax’s seven. A record of five wins, one draw, and one defeat is not terrible for the club from the Netherlands capital. It is only the fact that the champions have won all their league games so far that may skew the reality of the situation.
Ajax may not challenge PSV for the title this season, but looking at the team’s recent results, the Amsterdammers are moving in the right direction under Francesco Farioli.
The new head coach has made a solid start
Head coach Francesco Farioli seems to be helping the team move forward following last season’s calamitous campaign. He was a slightly surprising choice for the job. However, he could well prove to be a shrewd long-term appointment.
He has already shown signs of his managerial acumen early in his Ajax coaching career and even at his previous clubs. The Italian coach is still young and still obviously has a lot to learn at the top level of football.
However, he comes to Ajax with the club in need of stability and inspiration. Maybe the fact that he is still a relatively rookie coach could bring a freshness to the team and club from the Dutch capital, which was maybe needed.
While there is no guarantee that Farioli will be successful as Ajax’s head coach, he has already seemingly lifted the mood amongst the players, and there is a more positive feeling surrounding the club.
New arrivals on the pitches have also made a contribution on the pitch
While the summer signings of 2023 could have been described as hit-and-miss, their 2024 counterparts are showing signs of making a solid contribution to Ajax’s campaign in 2024/25.
The club were far more careful in the summer of 2024 with their player recruitment. The main signings were Wout Weghorst, Davy Klaassen and Bertrand Traore. All three have had an impact in recent games or matches earlier in the season.
All three players were on target last weekend, as Ajax won 4-3 at Heracles. Weghorst, as has so often been the case throughout his career, came off the substitutes bench to score a brace.
He entered the pitch on 59 minutes, and four minutes later, the striker scored his first goal. He also scored the winning goal after 82 minutes. The goals mean that the former Netherlands international has scored three goals in just four appearances for Ajax, with three of those appearances coming as a substitute.
Klaassen, who arrived back at the club as a free agent in the summer, has made five appearances, three starts and two substitute appearances, contributing with three goals and an assist. Against Heracles, he scored the leveller to make it 1-1.
The fact that he is making such a positive impact in his third spell at the club shows that he still has plenty to offer the Amsterdam club. As free signings go, he could well prove to be one of the best of the summer.
Winger Traore has not quite fulfilled his potential throughout his career. He has shone in short spells but has never been consistent enough.
Since returning to the club for a second spell, the Burkina Faso international has made seven appearances in the Eredivisie, five starts, and two substitute appearances.
Those appearances have yielded three goals and two assists, which is a decent return for a player who has not always produced an end product. Maybe Amsterdam is the place where the winger can finally produce a bit of consistency.
Things could be looking up for Ajax
Due to the club’s glorious history of winning trophies and success, it is hard for Ajax fans to see their team struggling. However, fans have to be realistic about their team’s prospects in season 2024/25.
After the way that PSV Eindhoven performed last season in the Eredivisie, they were always going to be red-hot favourites for the Dutch top-flight title. Their stellar start to the new league campaign only reinforces their status as title favourites.
It was always going to be difficult for Ajax to challenge the champions after last season’s poor campaign. However, the 2024/25 season has started in a far more encouraging way than the previous season’s.
The team have been producing solid, if not always highly convincing displays this season. The truth is that we shouldn’t be comparing it to last season, as it was just the sort of nightmare campaign that doesn’t come along very often for Ajax.
However, the reality is that the squad was in a mess in the summer, and looking at it realistically, things are looking up slightly for the Amsterdam club, with some of last season’s damage repaired, which can only be seen as a positive with much of the 2024/25 campaign still to play.