Ajax Project Under Pressure After Conference League Defeat, Says Valentijn Driessen
Ajax’s latest European setback has intensified questions about the direction of the club, with journalist Valentijn Driessen warning that Jordi Cruyff’s project may already be close to breaking point. Writing in De Telegraaf, Driessen argues that Ajax lack the leadership and balance needed to recover from a disappointing start to their Conference League campaign.
The Dutch side opened their European schedule with a 2-1 defeat away to Hajduk Split on Thursday evening. The result was damaging in itself, but the manner of the loss added to the concern. Ajax struggled to control the match, while two costly mistakes by left-back Jofre Torrents helped the hosts secure victory.
For supporters looking for signs of progress, the performance offered little reassurance. Ajax showed flashes of individual quality but failed to function as a cohesive unit. That lack of organisation has become a central theme in the debate surrounding the club’s rebuilding effort—and, in Driessen’s view, it raises serious doubts about whether the current plan can succeed.
Torrents’ difficult night and Míchel’s delayed response
Torrents was involved in both goals conceded, making the match especially difficult for the young Spanish defender. Driessen criticised head coach Míchel for waiting until the 75th minute to substitute him, arguing that the player should have been removed earlier after his errors began to affect the team.
“Míchel let it happen,” Driessen wrote, suggesting that the coach left Torrents exposed for too long. The substitution eventually came with around 15 minutes remaining, but it did not spark an Ajax comeback. By then, the damage had been done, and the visitors were unable to find a way back into the contest.
The criticism is not simply about one player’s mistakes. In high-pressure European football, defensive errors can happen, especially when a young player is still developing. The more pressing question is whether the team has enough experience and on-field authority to respond, protect a struggling teammate and restore its shape. Driessen believes Ajax currently lack that kind of leadership.
Ajax’s missing voice on the pitch
Driessen points to several established names who, in his assessment, have not provided the influence Ajax need. He argues that Marc ter Stegen has not been decisive enough to earn points for the team, while Julian Brandt—whom he describes as a highly regarded German star—has not delivered when the stakes are highest.
Davy Klaassen’s role has also been uncertain, with the midfielder moving between the starting lineup and the bench. Meanwhile, Driessen believes Sofyan Amrabat has not been able to hold the side together, and Youri Baas does not yet possess the authority to command the players around him.
These judgments reflect a broader concern: Ajax have talent, but talent alone does not guarantee a functioning team. A side assembled from players with different backgrounds, roles and levels of experience needs clear communication and a reliable structure. Without those foundations, individual quality can be difficult to translate into consistent results.
Why Daley Blind could be crucial to the recovery
In Driessen’s view, Daley Blind is the player Ajax are missing most. The veteran defender is currently sidelined with an injury, but the journalist believes his organisational ability and calm presence could help restore order to a team that has looked disjointed.
Blind’s recent involvement has been limited. He was on the bench for Ajax’s opening league match against PEC Zwolle and later played 45 minutes in the Conference League qualifying round against Shelbourne. Since then, he has not featured, leaving Ajax without a player Driessen considers capable of directing teammates and keeping the defensive line organised.
That absence may be more significant than it first appears. Blind is not only a defender; his experience allows him to read danger, communicate with teammates and help the team adjust when a match becomes chaotic. Those qualities can be particularly valuable when a younger player makes a mistake or the opposition begins to build momentum.
Coach Míchel has reportedly said Blind is progressing toward a return and could be available again in around two weeks. His comeback would not automatically solve Ajax’s problems, but it could provide a much-needed source of stability. The club’s challenge will be to make sure that leadership is supported by a clearer tactical plan and stronger performances across the squad.
Driessen’s bleak prediction for the Cruyff project
Driessen’s assessment of Ajax’s current squad is severe. Without Blind, he describes the team as a “ragtag bunch” containing a handful of top players alongside a larger group he considers mediocre. He also argues that the players do not fit together well enough and labels Míchel’s coaching as failing.
His conclusion is even more striking: the project associated with Jordi Cruyff may have reached a dead end. That is a prediction rather than a settled verdict, and Ajax still have time to respond through improved performances, tactical adjustments and the return of injured players. But the defeat in Split has made the pressure harder to ignore.
For Ajax, the immediate priority is to turn criticism into practical improvement. The team must reduce avoidable defensive errors, establish clearer roles and find a dependable voice on the pitch. Blind’s return could help address the leadership gap, while Míchel will need to show that he can react decisively when a player or tactical approach is struggling.
The wider test is whether Ajax can become more than a collection of individual names. A successful rebuild requires consistency, balance and a shared understanding of how the team should play. Until those elements appear, every setback is likely to renew doubts about the club’s direction—and make Driessen’s prediction that the Cruyff project is faltering increasingly difficult to dismiss.
