A perfect pitch was waiting for the Ajax players on Monday morning: freshly mowed, newly watered, and in pristine condition. Alongside that were new balls and a sleek new training kit. In addition to head coach John Heitinga and assistant Marcel Keizer, there were a few new faces on the pitch: newly appointed assistant coaches Frank Peereboom and Urby Emanuelson, as well as goalkeeping coach Harmen Kuperus.
After warming up in the gym, the players stepped onto the pitch one by one. Among them were many young talents who will be part of Jong Ajax in the coming season. Sam Feringa led the first field training and took charge of the warm-up.
The group was then split in two. Using four small goals and players in the centre, the Ajax squad launched into a fast-paced rondo. High pressure, high intensity, and a maximum of two touches. Heitinga dictated the tempo with one group, while Keizer led the other.
In the corner, the goalkeepers trained separately under the guidance of Kuperus. Once they were warmed up, the groups came together for a large positional game. A goalkeeper was stationed at each end, flanked by two small goals. In the middle, two wall passers acted as pivots in the build-up. The green and pink teams took turns building up and pressing.
The players pushed hard and made their presence felt. After an intense final drill, Heitinga blew the whistle one last time, signalling the end of the first field training session. With a sense of satisfaction, the gear was packed away, shade was sought, and the squad headed to the dressing room content. The first step has been taken in Amsterdam — Ajax is underway.
This coming Saturday marks the first real test, as Scottish side Hibernian will be the opponent.
