17 SEP 2025; Ajax - Internazionale; Champions League

[Orange14]

Here we go, Champions League football with Inter first up and coming to the Arena. Inter lost away to Juve today 4-3 and are sputtering at the start of the season. This will be a stern test for Ajax and if they play as they did in the 2nd half today, it won't be pretty.

[SPL]

I can see a 4-0 defeat coming . We are struggling to win games so far against weak sides .

[Amol]

I foresee many goals in this game. Based on how we're playing, I'm not making any predictions on the scoreline.

[Orange14]

Berghuis is out for this match as is Inter striker Lautaro Martinez.

[Tom_]

Just hoping we don’t concede 5. Sorry to say I would be happy with a 2-0 loss.

[SPL]

Berghuis injured so Edvardsen replaces him and thats the only change from the starting lineup v Zwolle. That lineup did well in the 1st half but Inter are a different class.

[Amol]

0-0 so far in the 38th minute. Ref awarded a penalty and correctly canceled it after a VAR check. Thuram had pulled Baas' shirt before Baas fouled him.

[Amol]

Edvardsen releases Godts who was one on one with the keeper, but Godts couldn't beat the keeper.

Inter scored right after that. Ugh.

[Orange14]

Klaassen is such a liability in this kind of game. His ball control is so bad that nobody dares to pass to him in a crowded area. It's like Ajax have only 2 MFs. Thuram was his man on the goal and he was not aware that he would be picked off for a free header.

[Amol]

I would bring in Gloukh for Klaassen at the start of the 2nd half and possibly Dolberg around the 60th minute.

[Amol]

Given up another one in the 47th minute from a corner. Klaassen gets beaten to the header again.

[Amol]

Ok I got one of my wishes. Dolberg coming on in the 60th minute and the kid from Liverpool.

[Amol]

Biggest problem is that the team looks like one who doesn't have a fully thought out way of playing. It's missing a playing style and players don't seem to know what their responsibilities.

[SPL]

Cannot complain about 2-0 ,they are one of the better sides in Europe. Looking at the 2 goals our defenders look midgets . Agree Klassen adds nothing .

With Qarabag winning in Benfica I do wonder how many points we will get and it will be a hard CL for us.

[Orange14]

This looked like vintage 2014 Frank de Boer football. constant back passing to the keeper with no clue how to break down the opposition. Hail Mary kicks from the keeper and a prayer that something will happen is not a recipe for successful football in the current day. I could not see any discernable tactical approach to this match and it Ajax were not even pressed. The two upfront Inter forwards did hardly anything at all when Ajax had the ball. There were passing lanes but the dysfunctional Ajax MF cannot make anything out of them. Last season we spent maybe €4M (if my memory is correct) on Edvardssen from Go Ahead Eagles. He's worth more than all the players we brought in this past summer. He puts in a good shift every time he is on the pitch. Pity that Godts could not convert on the break away but it was a good save by the GK. The real manager that Ajax should have hired was on the opposite side of things tonight.

Player Ratings:

Heitinga (2) - the only positive for me is that he put 11 players out on the field. Why does he continue to play Davy One Goal who is so limited that it's just to sad to watch. I did not see anything that makes me confident that he will last out the season. At least Farioli had the team defending corner kicks

Jaros (5) - just received lots of back passes and kicked the ball up field with no visible effect
Gaaei (5.5) -tries to make things happen going forward but only 2-3 crosses were any good
Itakura (6.5) - had to help out Klaassen on the 2nd goal but Thuram is just too strong and nailed the header
Baas (6.5) - another decent match
Wijndal (6.5) - not a bad match from him but got no help when he went forward
Regeer (5.5)- just above average and proving to be another wasted purchase
Taylor (6) - looked like he was carrying an injury and hobbled off the field in the 2nd half, couldn't figure out how to help break down the Inter defense
Klaassen (3.5) - just horrible, why was he even marking Thuram who is taller, stronger, and quicker; zero help in the MF because of his limitations
Edvardssen (6.5) - best player on the pitch for Ajax and showed grit and determination
Weghorst (5.5) -totally wasted upfront, hardly any of the long kicks from Jaros were on target
Godts (6.5) - worked hard all game and timed his run well on the breakaway, don't know if he could have done better with the keeper coming out fast
Dolberg (5) - had a couple of touches and that was it
McConnell (6) - he is much better on the ball than Regeer, needs to start at #6
Oscar (NR) - hard to judge him when he is only on for 15 minutes
Moro (NR) - light weight player who has good quickness but that's not enough
Sutalo (NR) - probably should have sold him during the summer when we might have made a bit of money; too late now

[Orange14]

Biggest problem is that the team looks like one who doesn't have a fully thought out way of playing. It's missing a playing style and players don't seem to know what their responsibilities.

That's the manager's fault!

[Amol]

Biggest problem is that the team looks like one who doesn't have a fully thought out way of playing. It's missing a playing style and players don't seem to know what their responsibilities.

That's the manager's fault!

Well of course. Heitinga is telling them to spit in their hands and play hard!!

[Tom_]

I guess it was a bit unlucky that our only chance fell to Godts, who needs about a dozen attempts and half the pitch to himself to do anything useful.

I can live with the result. I’m not getting a lot of pleasure watching this team though. We are not in the picture for a spot in the knockout stages so we just have to look at it as experience for the players.

I think McConnell could actually be handy - basic but solid. Also thought Regeer did OK.

[Orange14]

Inter played a brilliant game. They knew that Ajax did not have the quality in the MF to cause any problems if they just kept good shape. With the two strikers never pressing, Ajax were left with only the long ball and a prayer approach. A couple of times they did pass to Regeer who tried to create an outlet at the side for either Gaaei or Wijndall, but after that there was no hope. Heitinga has no tactical clue about how to break down such defenses.

I'm stunned that Heitinga and a number of the players including Klaassen didn't think Ajax played all that poorly. They created only ONE chance and that was saved.