After finishing second in 2014/15, Frank de Boer’s club will look to take back their crown as Eredivisie champions in 2015/16.
- By Andrew Gregory
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Ajax Amsterdam won four straight Eredivisie championships before coming in second to a PSV side that featured Memphis Depay and Georgio Wijnaldum in 2014/15. With those two players now in the English Premier League, Ajax will look to regain their title and win their 34th Eredivisie title.
Frank de Boer’s club will be coming back this campaign with nearly the same group as the last, which is a change from last summer where they were powerless to prevent key stars Daley Blind and Siem de Jong departing. However the Ajax boss is already coming under major scrutiny from the media after a shocking defeat to Rapid Vienna, which saw the club eliminated from the Champions League.
Can De Boer convince his side to put their poor start to the season behind them and stop PSV from racing away with the title again?
Summer Transfers
In- Nemanja Gudelj (AZ Alkmaar), Arkadiusz Milik (Bayer Leverkusen), Mitchell Dijks (Willem II), Amin Younes (Borussia Monchengladbach), Johnny Heitinga (Hertha BSC), Yaya Sanogo (on loan from Arsenal)
Out- Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (FC Nantes), Ricardo Kishna (Lazio), Niklas Moisander (Sampdoria), Richairo Zivkovic (on loan at Willem II), Niki Zimling (returned to parent club FSV Mainz)
Ajax set themselves up for a title run very nicely during the transfer window, buying Milik outright after a successful loan spell last season and adding Gudelj and Heitinga for leadership roles. Losing Kishna should become a non-issue as Viktor Fischer should be a viable replacement. Yaya Sanogo and Amin Younes will be able to deputize Milik while Zivkovic is developing his talents in Tilburg.
Preseason
Ajax have had a tough preseason drawing with Dinamo Moscow (2-2) and Wolfsburg (1-1). The loss on their preseason record came to FC Nordsjaelland (1-3) and the win against Panthinaikos (2-0).
Frank de Boer’s side have also had to deal with the disappointment of a champions League exit, as they crashed out in the third qualifying round against Austrian side Rapid Vienna. Ajax held a two goal lead at half time during the first leg, but threw that away despite Rapid being reduced to ten men. In the return leg in Amsterdam, Ajax were shocking defensively and conceded three goals from four shots, meaning they were eliminated 5-4 on aggregate. They will now have to settle for Europa League action this season.
Key Players
Davy Klaassen
Handed the captain’s armband by Frank de Boer for this season, Klaassen will look to lead the side back to the Eredivisie title. The 22-year-old is set to return to his favoured number 10 position, and already looked formidable in the 2-2 draw against Rapid Vienna in the Champions League, scoring both goals. This could be the season that Klaassen finally proves he is the successor to Wesley Sneijder in the Netherlands midfield.
Nemanja Gudelj
Although Gudelj is a new member of the squad, he will be looked upon to provide leadership and strengthen the young midfield. The Serb can also be a scoring threat, netting 11 goals in 32 appearances for AZ last season in the Eredivisie as well as assisting on three more.
Youngsters to Watch
Anwar El Ghazi
After an impressive debut season, El Ghazi must perform in order to give his squad a chance for the title. The 20 year-old forward made 31 appearances last campaign, scoring nine goals and assisting on eight more. He will challenge Milik for the team scoring title in 2015/16.
Reichedly Bazoer
Bazoer is set to start in the midfield along with Davy Klaassen and Gudelj in 2015/16. The 18 year-old was called up to join the first team after beginning the season with Jong Ajax. The excellent passer (86.9 passing percentage in 2014/15) will look to continue his rapid development this season, with many comparing the youngster to ex-Ajax legend Frank Rijkaard.
Daley Sinkgraven
Sinkgraven will look to show de Boer his versatility as he may be called on to play in a number of positions. Predominantly a midfielder, the 20 year-old started at left-wing against Rapid Vienna, and impressed with some excellent dribbling. The former Heerenveen star had a tough first six months in Amsterdam, but will hope to cement his place in the Ajax first team this campaign.
Projected Line-up
Cillessen; van Rijn, Veltman, Heitinga, Boilesen; Bazoer, Gudelj, Klaassen (c); El Ghazi, Milik, Fischer
Prediction
With Depay and Wijnaldum now in the Premier League, Ajax will fancy their chances of pipping PSV to the title, but Frank de Boer will need to cut out his side’s lack of concentration and defensive errors which have already cost them in the Champions League. Ajax have a young, very talented squad that has the capabilities to put up a big fight for the title, but they lack PSV’s experience and clinical attack. Ajax may have to yield to PSV once again, in what could be Frank de Boer’s final year in charge.
Predicted position: 2nd
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