Van der Vaart surprised by Ajax’s 5-2 win over Groningen
Ajax’s emphatic 5-2 victory away to FC Groningen caught former midfielder Rafael van der Vaart by surprise, even if the result offered an important lift after a disappointing European night. Speaking on NOS Studio Sport, he admitted he had not expected Ajax to score five goals in a fixture that has often proved awkward for the Amsterdam club.
“No, not really,” Van der Vaart said when asked whether he had predicted such a high-scoring performance. He described the contest as an entertaining, open match, with both sides creating momentum and opportunities. The win, he added, mattered beyond the league table: Ajax needed a response after Thursday’s setback, and a convincing result could help restore confidence.
A lively match and a valuable response
Groningen’s home ground has traditionally been a challenging destination for Ajax, making the scale of the victory all the more notable. The visitors eventually found the goals to take control, but the match was not a straightforward procession. Groningen pressed aggressively and made the game competitive, while Ajax had to manage spells of pressure before pulling clear.
For supporters following the Eredivisie, the result offered both encouragement and talking points. Ajax showed attacking quality and resilience, but the match also exposed risks in their build-up play. That contrast is likely to shape discussion ahead of the club’s next fixtures, including its upcoming Conference League meeting with Atalanta and the return to domestic action against Groningen on the schedule.
Any football prediction based on one performance should be treated with caution. A five-goal away win is a strong signal of attacking potential, but it does not automatically resolve the structural concerns visible during the game. Ajax’s challenge will be to carry the confidence forward while improving the decisions that invited Groningen back into the contest.
Van der Vaart backs Marcos Leonardo despite missed chances
Marcos Leonardo was again given a starting role and contributed to Ajax’s attacking play, but he was unable to get his name on the scoresheet. Van der Vaart felt the striker was enduring a frustrating spell in front of goal, with the breaks not falling his way despite his involvement in promising situations.
One moment stood out for the former Ajax player: the move that led to a Davy Klaassen goal being ruled out. Van der Vaart pointed to Leonardo’s contribution in the sequence and suggested that a similar opportunity would normally have ended with a goal. For a forward, repeated near-misses can quickly become a source of pressure, particularly when expectations are high and every performance is closely scrutinised.
Still, Van der Vaart was clear that he has not lost faith in the Brazilian. “People laugh at me, but I really think it’ll work out,” he said. “I have faith in him.” His confidence reflects a broader point about evaluating strikers: goals matter, but so do movement, link-up play, positioning and the ability to keep finding dangerous areas. A player who continues to reach scoring positions may be closer to a breakthrough than a run of missed chances suggests.
Why patience could matter for Leonardo
Ajax’s attacking options are judged against a demanding standard, and a centre-forward is often assessed primarily by the number beside his name on the scoresheet. Yet confidence can be fragile. A goal in the next match could change the conversation quickly, while another quiet outing might intensify calls for a change in the starting line-up.
Van der Vaart’s support offers a counterweight to that short-term reaction. Leonardo’s performance against Groningen included encouraging involvement, even though the decisive finish remained elusive. If Ajax can create a steady supply of chances and help him play with greater freedom, the striker may still become an important contributor as the season develops.
Build-up play under pressure remains a concern
Ajax’s victory did not erase questions about how the team responds to a high press. Groningen repeatedly tried to close down the visitors’ defenders and goalkeeper, forcing Ajax to make difficult decisions close to their own penalty area. Marc ter Stegen continued to look for short passing options, even as Groningen’s pressure made those passes increasingly risky.
The approach contributed to the sequence that allowed Groningen to make it 1-2 early in the second half. Leonardo lost possession in his own half, and Ajax were punished as the home side capitalised. Van der Vaart questioned why the team continued to insist on playing out from the back when Groningen were applying intense pressure and Ajax did not appear to have enough players capable of receiving the ball with an opponent close behind them.
His criticism was not simply about one misplaced pass. It concerned the need to adapt in real time. Playing through pressure can be valuable when a team has the right angles, technical security and movement to escape. But when those conditions are missing, a goalkeeper may need to choose a longer pass and move the contest away from immediate danger.
Van der Vaart argued that Ajax should have recognised when the short build-up was no longer working. In his view, an experienced goalkeeper must sometimes decide that the safer option is to go long rather than repeatedly invite the opposition to press. That does not mean abandoning Ajax’s preferred style; it means balancing possession with game management.
What the result means for Ajax
The 5-2 scoreline gives Ajax a welcome boost, particularly after the disappointment Van der Vaart referenced. It also offers a useful reminder that an entertaining win can contain both progress and problems. The attack produced enough to overwhelm Groningen, while Leonardo showed signs of involvement despite failing to score. At the same time, the goal conceded after a risky build-up highlighted an area that opponents may target again.
For fans looking ahead, the key question is whether Ajax can reproduce the attacking energy without repeating the same defensive mistakes. Their next fixtures will provide a clearer test of consistency, especially against opponents capable of pressing high or exploiting turnovers. The result in Groningen may encourage optimistic football predictions, but the team’s longer-term prospects will depend on turning a strong performance into a reliable pattern.
Van der Vaart’s overall assessment was positive: Ajax secured a significant away win and delivered an enjoyable match for viewers. His faith in Leonardo and his warning about playing out from the back capture the two sides of the performance—promise in attack, alongside decisions that still need refinement.
