Francesco Farioli’s Influence Resurfaces at Ajax Through Paul Nuijten

What if Francesco Farioli had remained at Ajax? The Italian coach departed from Amsterdam after last season, yet his influence is once again felt, embodied in the work of Paul Nuijten.

‘Farioli is back at Ajax, through the persona of Paul Nuijten.’

It is easy to overlook that Farioli faced significant criticism for not allowing Ajax to play in their traditional style. Jop van Kempen, author of the book ‘Het Ajax DNA’, commented on Ajax Showtime: “Under John Heitinga, we witnessed the vulnerabilities of a purely attacking strategy that was poorly executed. This approach often led to losses. I believe it is not suitable for Ajax to adopt a highly offensive style if it results in a fifth or sixth place finish. In my opinion, a more conservative approach with strategic attacking is necessary to compete for the league title. This aligns more closely with the principles of top-level football than attempting tactics that do not suit the team’s capabilities.”

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