Van der Gijp Sees Promise in Ajax’s 2-0 Conference League Win Over Atalanta
Ajax’s 2-0 victory over Atalanta offered more than a welcome first win in their Conference League campaign. For Dutch pundit René van der Gijp, the performance hinted at a team that could become more balanced by combining experienced players with emerging talent from its own academy.
Speaking on Vandaag Inside the evening after the match, the former forward said he had enjoyed Ajax’s football, particularly during the first half. His praise came after a difficult result the previous week, when Ajax had lost 2-1 to Hajduk Split. The response against Atalanta, he suggested, showed signs of progress and gave supporters reasons to be optimistic.
Van der Gijp’s comments focused on the potential shape of the squad. He highlighted an experienced core featuring Marc-André ter Stegen, Daley Blind, Julian Brandt and Tolu Arokodare, while arguing that Ajax should use homegrown youngsters to complement those senior figures. The idea reflects a familiar Ajax approach: blend leadership and experience with technically gifted players developed in the club’s academy.
Experience and youth could give Ajax a stronger balance
For a club with Ajax’s history, academy development is more than a tradition. It is a key part of the team’s identity and, at its best, a source of players who understand the club’s style from an early age. Van der Gijp’s suggestion is that established professionals could provide the stability younger players need as they adapt to senior football.
That balance can be especially valuable in European competition, where teams face different tactical challenges and the margin for error is often small. Experienced players can help manage difficult moments, while young talents may bring energy, creativity and the confidence to take opponents on. Ajax’s performance against Atalanta gave Van der Gijp a glimpse of how those qualities might fit together.
His praise was measured rather than a declaration that Ajax have solved every problem. A single result does not guarantee consistency, and the team will need to show that it can reproduce its best football across a demanding schedule. Still, a convincing home performance can help build belief, particularly after a setback in the previous round.
Ouazane’s goal catches Van der Gijp’s attention
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came from substitute Ouazane, who scored Ajax’s second goal from the left flank. He struck the ball with power, sending it in off the underside of the crossbar. The finish was difficult to ignore, and Van der Gijp was quick to praise the quality of the effort.
Some might argue that the goalkeeper could have done better, but Van der Gijp dismissed the idea that this should take away from the strike. His reaction captured the excitement around a young player making an impact: Ouazane did not simply get on the scoresheet; he produced a decisive finish that helped secure the result.
The goal also raised a broader question about how Ajax should handle promising academy players. Van der Gijp wondered whether a coach has a responsibility to develop a talent like Ouazane to the point where a major offer—he mentioned a possible €45 million fee at the end of the season—could arrive.
That remark was part praise and part challenge. Young players need opportunities to develop, but regular minutes alone do not guarantee progress. Coaching, careful management and the right competitive environment are also crucial. Ajax must decide when to trust emerging talents, how to protect them from excessive pressure and how to help them turn flashes of quality into reliable performances.
Arokodare’s performance prompts discussion
Tolu Arokodare also featured in the post-match conversation after scoring again against Atalanta. Johan Derksen questioned why the striker had struggled to make an impact in England, prompting Van der Gijp to point to Arokodare’s earlier form at Racing Genk and the circumstances surrounding his move to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Van der Gijp’s argument was that a player’s reputation can be shaped by the situation in which he arrives. Joining a club fighting near the bottom of the table may mean fewer chances, less service and greater pressure to deliver immediately. He questioned how many clear opportunities a forward might receive in a month under those conditions, suggesting that limited chances can make it difficult to judge a striker fairly.
His conclusion was straightforward: he does not consider Arokodare a poor player. For Ajax, the forward’s performance against Atalanta could strengthen the case for giving him a meaningful role, although his long-term value will depend on consistency and how well he fits into the team’s attacking plans.
What the win could mean for Ajax’s season
Ajax will need more than one strong result to establish themselves as serious contenders in the Conference League. Their next challenge is to maintain the intensity and attacking purpose shown against Atalanta while improving their reliability from match to match. The team’s ability to combine experienced leadership with academy talent may be central to that effort.
For supporters, the most encouraging sign may be that several storylines came together in one match: an improved team performance, a decisive contribution from a substitute and another goal from a striker whose potential remains under discussion. Those moments do not settle questions about the squad, but they give the coaching staff useful options to assess.
Any football prediction about Ajax’s European prospects should therefore remain cautious. The victory provides momentum, not certainty. If the senior core can offer stability and players such as Ouazane continue to seize their opportunities, Ajax may have the ingredients to grow into a more competitive side. The next test will be whether Thursday’s enjoyable display becomes a pattern rather than an isolated highlight.
