I don’t think anybody will want to remember Ajax’s 2023/24 Eredivisie campaign. However, assessing last season’s campaign’s results and performances is vital for context for the current season’s displays.
The two campaigns have been chalk and cheese for Ajax. This fact was further illustrated by a weekend 3-2 home win over PSV Eindhoven.
A statement victory over the champions
PSV Eindhoven were last season’s Eredivisie champions and were simply too good for most of their opponents for the majority of the campaign. They also started the current campaign as red-hot favourites to retain their Dutch crown.
PSV is still the favourite for the Dutch top-flight title. However, the 3-2 defeat at the Johan Cruyff Arena over the weekend may well plant a seed of doubt in the champion’s mind.
The result continued Ajax’s recent good run of form, as it means that not only is Francesco Farioli’s team on a six-game winning run, but they are also unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions.
A key to Ajax’s recent revival has been the team’s attacking threat, as they have scored at least two goals in five of their last six competitive matches.
At the other end of the pitch, the team from the Dutch capital has also kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches in all competitions. The stats show how good Ajax’s form has been in recent weeks.
The strong run of recent results has moved Ajax up to second place in the table, five points adrift of leaders PSV, with a game in hand of the reigning champions.
Baas and Klaassen have impressed of late
The current team is a good mix of youth and experience. Youngsters Youri Baas, Devyne Rensch and Jorrel Hato have been some of the best performers so far this season, making up the majority of the team’s defence for much of the campaign.
The likes of Rensch and Hato have been high-profile and highly rated in recent seasons, but Baas is a less familiar figure to most football fans.
Before this season, the defender had made just six appearances for Ajax. Baas spent the 2023/24 season on loan at NEC, making 26 appearances and scoring three goals.
The loan spell was obviously beneficial for the youngster, as Baas has made eight appearances in the Eredivisie, becoming one of the team’s first-choice centre-backs alongside Croatian international Josip Sutalo.
At the other end of the age scale to Baas, experienced midfielder Davy Klaassen has been highly impressive since his return to the club as a free agent in the summer.
The 31-year-old’s good form continued against PSV Eindhoven last time out, as he scored the goal to level the scores at 1-1. The midfielder has now scored five times in eight appearances for the club.
It seems that Klaassen and Ajax are just the right fit. He never really fulfilled his potential elsewhere. Some players seem to find the right club, and that seems to go for the midfielder and Ajax.
Maybe Klaassen should remain with the Amsterdam club for the rest of his career, as it appears he produces his best form in the capital of the Netherlands.
Could Ajax challenge for the Eredivisie title this season?
It has been discussed in the past whether Ajax can seriously challenge PSV for the Eredivisie title this season.
The victory over the reigning champions has put the team within touching distance of the Eindhoven outfit. Winning the game in hand would put Farioli’s team just two points behind the champions.
Considering what happened last season, it’s a highly promising situation for the team to be in at this stage of the season. The team look far stronger and more confident this season.
Whether Ajax could challenge for the title depends on many factors. The first factor is if they can maintain their own current form, which has been outstanding.
Another factor is if any other team can take points off PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie until the end of the season. Last season, they suffered just one defeat in their 34 league matches.
The defeat on Saturday was the first time in 11 Eredivisie games this season that PSV have dropped any points. They are still a formidable force in the Dutch top-flight.
However, the weekend result illustrated just what Ajax’s current team is capable of and that this season will continue to be a massive improvement on last season’s debacle.
Even if, in the end, Ajax can’t beat PSV to the Eredivisie title this season, the whole mood of the club is now far more positive, which only bodes well for the future.
Will Saturday’s win over PSV Eindhoven be season-defining for Ajax?