Since his appointment as Ajax’s principal coach, John Heiitinga has been regularly criticized. However, Hans Kraay junior believes that it is necessary to give him time to prove his worth at Johan Cruijff Arena. Kraay opposes too harsh and premature criticism, comparing it to an overly aggressive approach. He points out that Ajax management has deliberately chosen Heiitinga and that he does not have the same resources as other coaches, such as access to Barcelona players or experienced field environments like Jordy Clasie.

Anco Jansen, another analyst, takes a more critical position. He expressed concern about the lack of use of some expensive players who found themselves on the bench. Jansen questions the sustainability of this situation for Ajax, wondering if the club can afford not to fully exploit its investment in these players. He specifically cites the cases of Oscar Gloukh and Raúl Moro, as well as the Champions League match against Inter, as examples of this under-utilization.

Despite the criticism, Ajax is currently in third place in Eredivisie with eleven points in five days. The team won its last home game against PEC Zwolle (3-1), although the victory was difficult to achieve. During the Inter match, Heittinga’s team missed an important opportunity in the first half, allowing the Inter to win with two goals from Marcus Thuram. This defeat raises new questions about Heiitinga’s ability to lead the team to success.