Welcome back! With the Champions League set to return, join me as I discuss Erik Ten Hag’s 21/22 Ajax in Tactics Explained.
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Since being appointed as Ajax manager on the 28th December 2017, Erik ten Hag has transformed the club from a Europa League team and the second best domestically, to the undisputed of the Eredivisie and a serious dark horse for the Champions League. Setting up in a 4-2-3-1, Erik Ten Hag coaches his Ajax team to play a vertical tiki-taka style - possession based football but played at a higher tempo and with more direct passing than the tiki-taka made famous by Pep Guardiola. In possession, Ten Hag’s Ajax build out from the back using short passes which sees a preference for technical players with the ball. This is most noticeable in goal where Andre Onana, an excellent ball playing goalkeeper who was banned for doping, was replaced by 38 year old Remko Pasveer because of his ability on the ball. There’s a clear structure that the team adheres to, but players interchange positions to create variations within it.
Ajax generally look to stretch the pitch as much as possible and the outside players take up very wide positions. The big space needed to be covered by the opposition can cause pressers to think before they press. Often this hesitation creates time for an Ajax player who is initially marked by the presser’s cover shadow to move and create a new passing lane. What’s dangerous about this Ajax team is that when they break the first line of pressure, Ten Hag’s attacking structure often creates too many progressive passes to stop.
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In attack we see Ajax shift to a 3-2-2-3. A big focus of Ajax this season is creating overloads. Most notably we see 1 v 1s or qualitative overloads created out wide with the wingers.
When they’re in possession, the other 4 most forward players can create a front 5 with the winger, which naturally outnumbers a back 4, invariably creating a spare man. Whilst we see the wingers dribble at their man, hit the byline and cut the ball back or cross low for a teammate, we see the wingers use underlaps to pull the opposition apart, with Dusan Tadic a big part of this. And to go with the progressive and modern styles of chance creation through positional play, underlaps and low crosses, this season has seen Ten Hag use a physically imposing striker in Sebastien Haller as a target man, allowing them to play route one at times.
When Ajax lose the ball they deploy a counter press, with the closest players to the ball engaging to slow the counter attack or regain possession. If they’re unable to regain the ball, Ajax drop into a variable 4-5-1 as they look to defend from the front using a man to man press.
In terms of personnel there isn’t one player that’s crucial to Ajax this season. Obviously their best players make them perform at a better level but Ajax don’t break down without one or two men. At 19, 20 and 21 respectively, Ryan Gravenberch, Jurrien Timber and Antony all look like stars of the future. But they’re just the wonderkids. Lisandro Martinez, Edson Alvarez and Noussair Mazraoui are all more than ready to play for a top side in one of Europe’s top leagues.
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Tactically excellent, incredibly exciting to watch with players that are constantly improving, there isn’t a team in the Champions League that shouldn’t be worried about Erik ten Hag’s 21-22 Ajax side.
But anyway guys what do you think? Have you been impressed by Ajax this season? And are they better than the Champions League semi-finalist? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
#ErikTenHag # Ajax #TacticsExplained
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