Farioli addressed Weghorst's absence in the press room at Estadio Anoeta. "Wout is dealing with the flu. That's why we wore face masks during the journey today. I requested this as an extra precaution. We're doing everything we can to prevent other players from falling ill."
Weghorst participated in training on Tuesday but was not fit enough to travel on Wednesday. However, there is still hope that the striker can feature in San Sebastián on Thursday evening. "Wout will do everything he can to make it here, but it will ultimately depend on how he feels. Let's hope the paracetamol does its job", said Farioli.
A plane ticket for Weghorst has already been booked. "We'll assess the situation tomorrow morning (Thursday). If Wout is fit, he'll come. Once he's here, we’ll need to determine how much energy he has left in the tank."
Real Sociedad
Ajax faces Real Sociedad at 9:00 PM on Thursday evening. Farioli has been following the Spanish club for several years. "They've grown significantly in recent years. They're consistently competing for a top-four spot in Spain, which commands respect and attention. The connection between their coach, players, and the club is very strong."
Real Sociedad boasts two standout players: Mikel Oyarzabal and Martín Zubimendi. There's a strong chance Baas will face duels with the former on Thursday. "I've already come up against some quality forwards, so I don't get fazed by it. But, of course, he's a great player. He's even decided a European Championship final. We'll analyse his game and study key moments", said the Ajax defender.
Zubimendi is expected to play a pivotal role in Real Sociedad's build-up play, and Farioli is determined to neutralise him. "He's a very skilled player who makes excellent decisions with precision. Neutralising him will be one of the key factors tomorrow when we're out of possession. You'll see what we've planned to counter this."
League Phase
Ajax has collected ten points from four matches in the UEFA Europa League League Phase. Despite this strong performance, Farioli remains grounded. "The first four matches have gone very well for us. Now we’re up against a highly regarded opponent, a top team, and we must do everything in our power to prepare thoroughly."
"I don't think we're in a comfortable position at all. In the Champions League, you can see how quickly teams can drop down the table", the Italian coach continued.
Baas is determined that Ajax should continue their positive momentum in Europe. "I believe we're in an excellent position to push on. Our goal is to secure enough points in the upcoming matches to finish in the top eight."
