Ajax Simplifying Play with Itakura’s Midfield Role, Says ESPN Analyst
Ajax’s tactical shift, deploying central defender Ko Itakura as a controller, is simplifying the game for other players, according to ESPN analyst Karim El Ahmadi. Itakura, signed as a center-back, has featured in a more advanced midfield role in recent matches, including Sunday’s 2-0 victory over FC Groningen.
“You make it easier for many players this way,” El Ahmadi explained during Football Talk on ESPN. “They don’t have to think too much about where they should stand.”
El Ahmadi, a former player for FC Twente adn Feyenoord, noted Itakura’s ability to support the central defenders during Groningen’s periods of possession. “I think you have to be realistic. They now also do that at Ajax.”
The analyst also suggested that the empty Johan Cruijff Arena,a result of last Sunday’s fireworks incident,may have benefited some Ajax players by reducing pressure.
