On Monday night, a fire broke out briefly at Johan Cruijff Arena, the Ajax Amsterdam stadium. The firefighters were alerted around 2045 and quickly controlled the flames, which were concentrated mainly in a kiosk within the stadium. A large amount of smoke was released in the corridors under the stands, requiring intensive ventilation. The exact cause of the fire and the precise material damage remains to be determined. The incident occurred shortly after a 3-1 Ajax win over PEC Zwolle, a result that was hailed by fans and coach John Heitinga.

The event also sparked discussions about Coach Heitinga’s tactical choices, including the management of player changes. Valentijn Driessen, a sports journalist, criticized the coach’s strategy, believing that he could have given more time to some players, such as Kasper Dolberg, who was expected by the fans. Driessen pointed out that Dolberg’s absence on the ground, despite expectations, was due to a bad choice of changes from Heitinga. He also expressed his opinion that Feyenoord’s midfielder, Luciano Valentini, would be an asset to Ajax, highlighting his technical qualities and creativity.

Finally, Driessen warned midfielder Sem Steijn of Feyenoord that he had to bring more than goals to keep his place on the team. Although he is the captain, his lack of overall impact on the game could lead to the arrival of new players to replace him. Driessen concluded by saying that Feyenoord had a “luxury problem” in the middle of the field, with several talented players competing for seats.