Michel Sánchez Defends Ter Stegen as Ajax Face Questions Over Slow Build-Up
Ajax head coach Michel Sánchez has rejected criticism aimed at goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen after the German came under fire in the Dutch media for his recent performances. Following Ajax’s 1-1 draw with NEC Nijmegen, one journalist likened the Barcelona loanee to a wax figure at Madame Tussauds, arguing that his prolonged spells on the ball had contributed to the team’s sluggish attacking play.
Sánchez pushed back against the comparison, insisting that Ajax’s lack of forward momentum was a collective problem rather than the responsibility of one player. His defence comes as the club faces growing scrutiny over its approach to building attacks from the back—a style that can offer control and create passing options, but has frustrated supporters when it fails to produce quick progress or clear chances.
Criticism follows frustrating draw with NEC Nijmegen
Ajax controlled possession for long periods against NEC, but struggled to turn that control into sustained pressure near the opposition goal. The team repeatedly recycled the ball through its defensive line, with ter Stegen often available as a passing option. To some observers, the slow circulation became a symbol of Ajax’s wider difficulty in finding effective ways through a compact defence.
The post-match exchange took a personal turn when a reporter compared the goalkeeper’s stillness on the ball to a statue at Amsterdam’s Madame Tussauds museum. The remark reflected frustration with the pace of Ajax’s play, but Sánchez rejected the suggestion that ter Stegen was simply holding up the game.
“I don’t agree with you describing him as a statue,” Sánchez said, according to comments reported by Tribuna. He pointed out that the goalkeeper can function as an extra player in possession, giving the team another passing option and potentially helping it draw opponents out of position.
That role, however, only works when teammates move decisively and offer useful angles. If the midfield and forward line remain static, a goalkeeper may have few safe options beyond passing sideways or retaining possession. Sánchez’s response therefore shifted attention from ter Stegen’s individual decisions to the movement and coordination of the team around him.
Sánchez says Ajax must create space collectively
The coach argued that Ajax needed to respond differently when NEC pressed or blocked the route forward. Rather than criticise the player in possession, he said, the team should use short passes to make the opponent move, then exploit the space created behind the defensive line.
“We should have played differently in those situations, relying on short passes and forcing the opponent to move more, in order to create a numerical advantage and spaces behind their defence,” Sánchez said.
The explanation points to a familiar challenge for teams that build from the back. Possession alone does not guarantee attacking threat: the ball must circulate quickly enough to shift the opposition, while players off the ball need to make runs that open passing lanes. When those movements are delayed, a team can dominate the ball without advancing meaningfully—a pattern that has become a talking point around Ajax’s recent performances.
There is also a tactical balance to manage. Playing through pressure can help a side retain control and draw opponents forward, but it carries risk if the passing tempo is slow or the available options are predictable. In such moments, teams may need to vary their approach with quicker combinations, runs into space or a more direct pass to prevent the opposition from settling into a defensive shape.
Ter Stegen remains central to Ajax’s plans
Ter Stegen, 34, joined Ajax from Barcelona on loan during the summer transfer window and has started almost every one of the club’s Eredivisie matches this season. His regular selection suggests that Sánchez continues to trust the experienced goalkeeper, despite the recent criticism from sections of the Dutch press and Ajax’s supporters.
A goalkeeper’s contribution in a possession-based system is not measured only by saves. He may be asked to help start attacks, provide a spare option against a press and deliver accurate passes into midfield. Those responsibilities can make his decisions highly visible, particularly when a team is struggling to move the ball forward. But judging one player’s performance solely by how long he holds possession can overlook the choices available to him and the movement of his teammates.
That does not mean ter Stegen is beyond scrutiny. Any goalkeeper involved in building attacks must make decisions quickly and accurately, especially when opponents attempt to close him down. Yet Sánchez’s defence underlines a broader point: the success of Ajax’s build-up depends on the whole structure, not simply on the player who has the ball at his feet.
What Ajax need to improve in the coming matches
Ajax’s challenge is to turn possession into forward progress. Faster passing, sharper movement between the lines and better coordination between defenders, midfielders and attackers could help the team create the numerical advantages Sánchez described. If opponents are forced to shift across the pitch, gaps may appear for runners to attack behind the defence.
The club will also need to respond to the criticism with performances, rather than explanations alone. Supporters expect Ajax to play with ambition, and a patient approach from the back can become frustrating when it produces few chances. Finding the right mix of control and urgency will be important as the team looks to regain confidence and improve its attacking output.
For now, Sánchez has made clear that he will not accept ter Stegen being made the sole scapegoat for Ajax’s slow build-up. The coach’s message is that the solution lies in collective execution: quicker combinations, purposeful movement and a willingness to exploit space when it opens.
Football prediction: Ajax’s progress in upcoming fixtures may depend less on changing goalkeepers than on improving the movement and tempo around him. If the team applies Sánchez’s ideas and turns patient possession into faster, more incisive attacks, ter Stegen’s role in the build-up could become an asset rather than a source of debate. If the same slow patterns continue, however, scrutiny of Ajax’s tactics—and of the players responsible for carrying them out—is likely to intensify.
