Gradually, the first outlines of the new season are becoming visible. Last Tuesday, the first twelve fixtures of the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie were officially confirmed. In addition, it became clear just over a week ago that Ajax will face either Serbian side FK Vojvodina or Hungarian club Ferencváros in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.
The first match of the European two-legged tie is scheduled for 22 July, meaning our new head coach Míchel has just under a month to prepare his squad for the first major test of the season.
Míchel was presented by Ajax at the beginning of June and reported for his first working day with his staff at De Toekomst on Thursday, where the first tests for his players were scheduled. In almost tropical conditions, the Ajax players arrived one by one. After a thumbs-up, a smile and a brief chat, the first-team players headed inside.
In the gym, the players underwent various fitness tests. This was followed by a conditioning session outdoors. Once again divided into groups of four or five, the Ajax players had to successfully complete the MAS test – in which they had to chase one another around the pitch in repeated laps.
Ajax are still without their World Cup participants. Rayane Bounida did not make the final cut for Morocco’s World Cup squad, but remains on leave due to the training hours he completed with the Atlas Lions.
Tomorrow (Friday, 26 June), the first group training session is scheduled to take place.
