Fred Grim Reflects on Ajax’s Loss in His Interim Debut

Fred Grim concluded his first — and possibly last — match as interim coach of Ajax with a 2-1 defeat to FC Utrecht, marking a difficult start to his temporary tenure following the dismissal of John Heitinga.

During a post-match press conference held in an unconventional setting — a driving school classroom — Grim arrived more than 30 minutes after the final whistle. Adjusting his jacket and testing the microphone, he began with a calm but weary tone:

“Good afternoon everyone. I apologize for my voice; it’s not at its best today. We came to Utrecht aiming for three points, but unfortunately, we fell short.”

Grim avoided blaming the officials but noted the fine margins:

“The referee allowed a lot, and FC Utrecht played on the edge, which I actually appreciate. But it was unfortunate that our goal was disallowed after a VAR review, and then we conceded shortly after. That was a mental blow going into halftime.”

Despite Ajax’s second-half improvement, the interim coach admitted that his team fell short of expectations.

“We regrouped well after the second goal. It’s disappointing we didn’t at least secure a draw,” he added.

Grim highlighted set-piece defending as a recurring weakness:

“We’ve worked on it a lot in recent weeks, but if you lack physicality and lose aerial duels, you must prevent opponents from getting those chances. That’s something we must improve — and quickly.”

Reflecting on his sudden promotion to interim head coach, Grim said the past week had been “quite surprising”:

“The management asked if I was willing to step in for John. I called him — he was emotional and understandably so — but he told me, ‘You must do what you need to do.’ That helped me make my decision.”

According to Grim, the players were also shocked by Heitinga’s dismissal.

“John was popular in the dressing room. None of us expected Thursday’s announcement. After that, it was about focusing on motivation, training, and preparing the group for Utrecht.”

Asked about the next steps, Grim admitted that his role remains undefined:

“There hasn’t been much discussion about the future. The club asked me to take charge of this match, and beyond that, we’ll see. Tonight or tomorrow, I’ll analyze the game and wait for what comes next. That’s football.”