football
Ajax after embarrassing bankruptcy: Club is relegated to the underworld
Ajax had to admit defeat to amateur club USV Hercules in the cup. photo
© Gerrit Van Keulen/ANP/dpa
This has never happened before: the big Ajax are eliminated in the cup against an amateur club. The reactions are clear.
An “extraordinary embarrassment for Ajax” was the headline in “De Telegraaf,” and even the Spanish “Marca” spoke of a “scandalous failure. The club is descending into the underworld!” The 20-time cup winner was eliminated in the second round with a 2-3 defeat by fourth division club Hercules and was therefore defeated by an amateur club for the first time in cup history.
“Disaster Season”
“Ajax’s disaster season has thus reached a new historic low,” wrote De Telegraaf. “De Volkskrant” spoke of a fall “into a crater from which the bottom has obviously not yet been reached.” The team was more than embarrassed. “Even against amateurs, Ajax cannot defend… nor attack properly.”
The record champions from the state capital are in what is probably the most difficult time in their history – including a serious board crisis. In October, Ajax were even in last place in the Eredivisie. Under new coach John van ‘t Schip, Ajax has now improved to fifth place after a historically poor start to the season. The gap to leaders PSV Eindhoven is already 23 points.
Brian Brobbey and Chuba Akpom had equalized a 0-2 deficit late on with their goals in the 83rd and 88th minutes, but in stoppage time Mats Grotenbreg made the sensation perfect with the winning goal for the underdogs.
“That shouldn’t have happened,” said Ajax assistant coach Michael Valkanis after the game. He represented head coach van ‘t Schip, who is in Australia for his son’s wedding. “We are going through a very difficult season. But we have to keep working and get everything back on track,” said Valkanis.