"As head coach, you sometimes have to be demanding," García said. "Otherwise, you can’t achieve good results. Over the past few days, we have reviewed many matches to identify where improvements can be made quickly. We looked at tactical changes and ways to win games, just as we did with Ajax U23. We have worked hard together. Everyone has to take responsibility."
Fitness
There was also an update on the squad's fitness. "Kasper Dolberg has not trained in the past few days because of stomach problems. Wout Weghorst also did not train." García will, in any case, be without Weghorst for Saturday's match against Sparta. The striker is suspended.
The coach also wants to remain faithful to Ajax's football philosophy. "I grew up in Barcelona, and I know this way of playing very well. Ajax and FC Barcelona share the same philosophy. That is what we want to stick to. My task is to give the players confidence and enable them to win matches for Ajax."
For the coach, his role at Ajax also has a personal meaning. "I feel honoured to take on this role. My brother was the last one to play here, wearing the number fourteen shirt. I know how big this club is and how important Ajax is to the fans." His objective is therefore clear. "We will do everything we can to help the club and bring it back to where it belongs. We want to make the fans proud and fight for every ball."
Rest of the season
With eight matches still to play, the coach knows flexibility is important. "In football, you always have to adapt as a coach. I am the third coach this season, so we have to look at what the team needs right now." His background in Barcelona plays an important role in that. "I grew up with this way of playing. At the same time, I also wanted to learn from other clubs. That is why I left Barcelona at the time. It is good for a coach to go abroad and learn other training methods. You work with different nationalities and mentalities, and you learn a lot from that."
When García talks about quality in players, he looks at four important aspects: tactical, technical, physical and mental. "If you struggle with one of those four aspects, you will have problems at the highest level. Often it is a pattern, and that has to be solved individually. My job is to see that and help players solve that problem."
'The sixteen players who play are the most important'
The coach is clear about the team's composition. "I don't necessarily believe in the same eleven starters. Sometimes important players are on the bench. We do not prepare matches only with the eleven who start, but with the entire team." According to García, it ultimately comes down to the players who get minutes. "The sixteen players who play are the most important, and the formation is only the starting point. The most important thing is that we maintain control of our structure, even when we lose the ball. You can win with any formation. The structure and distances on the pitch are the most important. Players also have to be flexible in that. If players can rotate and understand the structure, you can make the difference," García continued.
For talents from Ajax U23, the door to the first team is open, but they have to earn their place. "If we want to have good players, they have to fight for their spot. I don’t want to see lazy players. We have a lot of talent at Ajax U23. Some already train with the first team, but they must continue to develop, just like the players in the first team."
Johan Cruijff
The coach emphasised that success starts with hard work. "You cannot be number one without working hard." At Ajax, García also feels the club's strong history. "You feel Johan Cruijff, Louis van Gaal, Rinus Michels and Frank Rijkaard everywhere here." Cruijff in particular means a lot to him. "I know how important Johan Cruijff is here. In Barcelona, it is the same. He changed everything there. Everyone loves him. To be here at his club makes me very proud."
Finally, the coach also looked back at his predecessors. "Fred Grim is a good person and a good coach. Last season, I clearly saw the influence of Francesco Farioli in the team. He also brought things that may be less common at Ajax, but he achieved good results. He is a fantastic coach."
