After the international break Ajax are immediately in action twice in front of their own fans. On Saturday at home against PEC Zwolle, after which Inter visit midweek in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
Heitinga hopes to wash away the bitter aftertaste of the last match before the international break against PEC Zwolle. "We all know that Volendam was not good from our side,” said the Alphen-born coach about the 1-1 draw. “If you draw at Volendam, it feels like a defeat. I wasn’t in a good mood for the first few days after the match.”
Automatisms
The transfer window has now closed and Heitinga knows which squad he will be working with for the first half of the season. “I don’t need to explain to you that the past period has been restless,” Heitinga told the journalists present. “I am glad that I know what my group is. We now want to continue improving and focus on our game and building automatisms.”
On Deadline Day Ajax added Kasper Dolberg to the squad, as a replacement for the departed Brian Brobbey. The Dane will have to compete with Wout Weghorst, Ajax’s top scorer in the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie with three goals.
Dolberg/Weghorst
The press wanted to know from Heitinga whether he had spoken to Weghorst about Dolberg’s arrival. “I did give him a call the day after Kasper was signed. Wout knows how I think about him and knows his role. I am glad he plays for Ajax and let him cause a bit of havoc now and then. For both him and Kasper it applies that they must give their all.”
The first impressions of Dolberg please Heitinga. “Kasper looks fit and happy. Let him just go and score goals for Ajax.”
Another new signing, James McConnell, is part of the match squad for the first time against PEC Zwolle. “James is included, but will not start. He has enormous drive and I look forward to seeing him on the pitch soon. He must get to work because there is a lot of competition in midfield, but he just has to make sure he is better than the others.”
About PEC
With PEC Zwolle, Ajax face an opponent with two points fewer. “I think they are well organised. They often play with the same players and the football looks fresh. With six points in the bag they are a team coming to Amsterdam with confidence.”
Heitinga hopes Ajax can focus on the start of the UEFA Champions League with three points in hand. Against Inter, Ajax will play their 500th European match in the club’s history.
“It is wonderful to play Champions League. That is something not only I, but all of us look forward to. I experienced it last season as assistant at Liverpool and of course as a player myself. This is the stage on which every player wants to perform, to measure yourself against the absolute top. We will try to sell our skin dearly, but once again: we will only think about that after Saturday. First focus on PEC Zwolle.”
