Amsterdam, Netherlands – September 15, 2025, 08:17 CET – Ajax Amsterdam’s recent player acquisitionsโ are drawing criticism for โprioritizing technical skill over physical prowess, a strategy experts warn clashes with the demands of eliteโ international competition. Concerns are mounting โas โคthe teamโค prepares to face Inter Milan in theโ Championsโฃ League,where physical dominance is often decisive.
Analysts suggestโฃ Ajax’s recruitment policy-focusing on players like Raรบl Moroโฃ and Oscar โGloukh-contradictsโฃ established principles of success at the highest levels of football. Former players โand commentators are questioning whether a team built on smaller, less physically imposing athletes can consistently โovercome opponents who prioritize strengthโ and โฃendurance. This debate โฃarrives as ajax seeks to rebuild its standing in European football, and the outcome โคof Wednesday’s match โฃagainst Inter Milan could considerably impact their trajectory.
According to football analyst Vink, Ajax faces โa meaningful disadvantage in the physical battle โขagainst Inter Milan’s players.”You have to have a very good day of Godts,a mountain house that is willing to make the meters he has to make. Because you will have to go after dimarco. In the Champions League every mistake and any negligence are punished.”
Ajax โcoach John Heitinga โฃappeared to acknowledge these concerns during a recent match against PEC Zwolle, benching players like Lucas โRosa and Kian Fitz-Jim, who areโ not known for theirโ physical strength. Commentator Perez believes a similarโ approachโ will be wise against โคInter Milan, advocating for โthe continued inclusion of Davy klaassen โand โSteven Bergwijn. “Government and Klaassen โขwill continue to โwalk, I would also choose that.”
The core of the critique centers on a perceived mismatch between Ajax’s transfer โstrategy and โขtheโค realities of top-tier football. Perezโ stated, “Very small, physically non-strong players are taken, which goes against the laws of international top football. Then you have to โฃmake sure that you can play โso well โthat you do not get into the duels. If that is not the case, then you have to choose โขyour physically best players.” With Inter Milan boasting physically imposing players likeโ Denzel Dumfries, the importance of strength and stamina is expected to be notably pronounced onโ Wednesday.