In a packed press room at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, the duo looked ahead to Thursday night's UEFA Europa League clash against Union Saint-Gilloise. Despite carrying a 2-0 victory into the second leg, both emphasized that securing a place in the next round is far from guaranteed.
"On our desk, we have two different books: one for the Eredivisie and one for the Europa League," Farioli explained metaphorically. "We want to read them both, page by page—nothing more than that. We must never think we've already achieved something. That’s a message we keep repeating. Thursday is a new chapter in the book."
The Hunter or the Hunted
Klaassen also recognizes that Ajax’s strong position in the Europa League and at the top of the Eredivisie has changed how the outside world perceives the team. Suddenly, Ajax is no longer ‘the hunter’ but ‘the hunted.’ As an experienced player, he has been in this situation before and knows that maintaining the right mentality is crucial.
"Our mindset must always remain the same. That mindset is the reason we are where we are now. It’s true that we’ve climbed the league table, but if you’re not careful, you can quickly drop back down. We’re working hard to keep that mindset intact. Every day, we stress that success doesn’t come automatically. We’ve reached this point through hard work."
The coach also sees the squad's depth improving in a positive way. He believes the team responds well to setbacks and that ‘new players’ are quickly adapting to the squad’s rising level.
"Since the start of the season, we have faced challenges. But our players always step up when needed. Last Sunday, we had to replace two players who were supposed to start due to illness. However, those who stepped in showed a positive response."
Injury Update
On Sunday against Heracles, Ajax was without Youri Baas, Kenneth Taylor, and Ahmetcan Kaplan due to illness, while Jordan Henderson was also absent with an injury. Farioli provided a positive update on some of them:
"Henderson, Taylor, and Kaplan will likely be back in the squad. Youri Baas and Jay Gorter will definitely not be available. Gorter is ill, which means that Charlie Setford and Paul Reverson from Jong Ajax will be included in the squad tomorrow."
Team spirit
Both Farioli and Klaassen are full of praise for the strong team bond within Ajax. "You can really feel that we are a team in the dressing room," the Ajax midfielder said positively. "We spend every day together—players and coaching staff—and that connection feels great. It’s important to have that unity to achieve good results. This team is capable of giving 100% in every match."
That starts again on Thursday evening at the Johan Cruijff ArenA against the current number three in Belgium. Despite their advantage, both refuse to take anything for granted. "On paper, I expect a similar type of match, but the circumstances are different," Farioli noted, referring to the pitch in Brussels.
"For me, it’s 0-0 again on Thursday evening. We won’t play as if we have something to defend. We always play with a certain identity—something we stand for. And that won’t change on Thursday night."
