Ajax Coach Wants More from Arokodare

Ajax coach Míchel Sánchez has said Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare needs to press harder and bring more energy to his game. This comes despite Arokodare scoring in Ajax's 3-1 loss to PSV at the weekend.

Arokodare started the Eredivisie match at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Saturday. He scored an equalizer for Ajax in the 23rd minute after Ricardo Pepi had given PSV the lead just four minutes into the game.

However, the 25-year-old was taken off in the 61st minute. Kasper Dolberg came on as Míchel made changes to his attack.

Míchel explained why Arokodare was substituted. He said Ajax needed more energy and fresh legs going forward. He admitted the striker had not played his best.

“Due to a lack of energy. He is a player we all support,” Míchel said, as reported by Ajax Showtime.

“Perhaps he wasn’t playing at his best level and we needed fresh legs to press and try to find space in behind the defence.”

The Ajax coach also revealed he expected more from Arokodare at the start of the match.

“We said that he would be important as a focal point. He had to enable us to hold onto the ball and allow us to play as a team. I wasn’t pleased with his first actions.

“Ultimately, I am very passionate, and so is he. From the sidelines, we see everything much more clearly. I have asked him to put more determination and energy into his actions,” he said.

PSV regained the lead through Lutsharel Geertruida in first-half stoppage time. Esmir Bajraktarević then scored in the 92nd minute to complete the scoring. Ajax is currently sixth on the Eredivisie table after four matches, with seven points from two wins, one defeat, and a draw. They will travel to Fortuna Sittard next.