John Heitinga will probably meet the Ajax club management on Monday to discuss the plans for the rest of this season. The former defender sat on the bench with Excelsior (1-4) on Sunday as an interim trainer, replacing the dismissed Alfred Schreuder. It is not yet clear whether he will complete the season as coach or whether someone else will be appointed.
“I think we will meet tomorrow. We will see what choice is made,” Heitinga told ESPN . “It is important to make the most sensible choice for the club. If there is clarity, you will be told.”
Heitinga, who is responsible for Jong Ajax, had a good time on his debut. “I actually enjoyed it,” said the trainer. Heitinga did not like the first half. “Then I was extremely irritated. You play against a compact organization. If you take the lead quickly, you have to lure their players out. We didn’t do that well. We were sloppy on the ball. You know that Excelsior can hurt us do from the switch and from dead moments. We gave away way too many corners.”
Heitinga was pleased with the second half. “I’ve seen some great goals,” said the coach, who told the players several times in recent days that a club like Ajax cannot be in fifth place in the Eredivisie. “We won and climbed up the rankings. That’s good if you look at where we come from.”
Captain Dusan Tadic would like to see Heitinga stay. “He is a real Ajax player,” he said. “The fans also love him. He has a lot of energy and is enthusiastic. He is also straight against the players. He has the qualities to be Ajax’s first coach.”
Tadic had a bad feeling about Schreuder’s dismissal. “We felt responsible about what happened to the coach. As players we have to fight for our club. Then it doesn’t matter who the trainer is. We should be proud to wear this shirt. Ajax is the most beautiful club in the world.”
Source: ANP
