Against Chelsea, John Heitinga once again chose to take Oscar Gloukh off early. The decision to substitute the Israeli after Kenneth Taylor’s red card did not go down well with the traveling fans.
Embed from Getty Images
Chelsea beat Ajax 5-1 in London, a scoreline that framed a difficult night for John Heitinga and set the tone for a heated post match debate about selection choices and in game management.
Speaking after the final whistle, Heitinga stressed that he understood the emotions of Oscar Gloukh and the traveling supporters, yet reiterated that the coaching staff made a strategic decision in the moment. With Ajax reduced to ten men after Kenneth Taylor’s red card, the plan shifted to fielding two holding midfielders, preserving pace on the flanks, and keeping a focal point up front with Wout as a target man. In Heitinga’s view, those adjustments were the most coherent way to survive the immediate pressure and still carry a threat on transitions, even if that plan demanded an early withdrawal for Gloukh.
The decision collided with the mood in the away end. Ajax fans, already frustrated by the red card and the expanding deficit, voiced their displeasure with chants calling for Heitinga’s dismissal. The coach acknowledged the sting of that reaction, describing it as short lived and rooted in the rawness of the evening. He pointed to the sacrifices supporters make when they follow the team abroad, and he accepted that their disappointment would be amplified by the circumstances. He also recognized the pain for a player like Gloukh, a creative talent who draws fans to the stadium, yet argued that the game state demanded functionality first. Playing with ten often turns on small margins in structure and discipline. In that calculus, Heitinga preferred a profile he felt could execute as a second number six more reliably than Gloukh in the closing stages.
From a tactical perspective, the reshuffle was designed to address three priorities. The first was controlling central spaces without conceding easy entries between the lines. Two sixes can compress the zone in front of the back line and reduce the volume of progressive passes into the half spaces. The second was protecting the touchlines while still posing counterattacking danger. Retaining speed out wide aimed to stretch Chelsea in defensive transition and discourage their fullbacks from over committing. The third was keeping a reference point up top. A target forward offers a direct outlet under pressure, provides a platform for clearances, and can relieve strain on the midfield by drawing fouls and allowing the block to push up. The trade off was obvious. Removing a playmaker reduced Ajax’s capacity to combine and create through central pockets, but in exchange the side hoped to stabilize at the base and pick moments to break.
Gloukh’s early substitution inevitably became the lightning rod. Creative players read the rhythm of a match through touches and combinations, and early withdrawals can feel like a verdict on performance rather than a situational adjustment. Heitinga’s explanation placed the choice squarely within the constraints that follow a red card. With two lines needing protection and Chelsea’s pressure building, the staff prioritized roles over reputations. That kind of decision is rarely popular in real time, especially when the scoreboard is already tilted. Yet it reflected a pragmatic attempt to impose order on a game that had started to run away from Ajax.
There were also psychological currents at play. A heavy defeat on a European stage magnifies scrutiny. Small disagreements between the stands and the touchline quickly grow into larger narratives. Heitinga tried to douse those flames, noting that hostile chants do not represent the entirety of supporter sentiment and insisting that the episode would not fracture the dressing room. He emphasized the unity required to navigate a congested schedule and the importance of focusing on the next match rather than relitigating every choice from London.
For the squad, the practical implications are clear. Ajax must process the lessons of the 5-1 loss without allowing it to linger. Defensive distances need tightening. The midfield screen must be more compact after turnovers. Ball progression under pressure must improve, so that the first pass after a regain does not simply invite the next wave. Set piece concentration will also be scrutinized, since dead ball phases often decide momentum when a team is down to ten. On the attacking side, wide players will be challenged to offer both depth and ball security. The target man approach can be valuable, but it demands coordinated runs and second ball organization around the striker to avoid isolation.
Individually, Gloukh will look for the fastest route back to influence. The coaching staff will likely reinforce the message that the substitution was situational rather than a demotion. For a young creator, the response is usually best measured in the next ninety minutes. Positive body language, quick decisions, and relentless off ball work can reshape the conversation quickly. For Wout, the role as reference point requires durability and aerial duels, but also subtlety in link play. Dropping in at the right moments, laying the ball off cleanly, and spinning into the box can convert long clearances into genuine attacks.
The calendar offers no time for prolonged reflection. After the heavy defeat in London, Ajax face another away trip on Sunday, with a visit to FC Twente in the Eredivisie. That fixture now doubles as a test of resilience. A controlled performance, even more than a sparkling one, would calm the waters. Early passes that stick, clear structure in the first press, and a mature game plan tailored to the opponent’s strengths could rebuild confidence. Heitinga and his staff will be judged on how quickly they translate the hard lessons of Chelsea into smarter choices and cleaner execution. The players will be judged on how they respond to adversity, both collectively and individually.
For the supporters, the hope is simple. They want to see effort measured not only in sprints and tackles but in clarity and cohesion. Heavy defeats can be formative moments if they sharpen focus rather than corrode belief. Heitinga’s message, boiled down, was about trade offs. With ten players, every decision has a cost. The task now is to ensure that future choices produce a very different balance on the scoreboard and in the stands.
Updated: 10:44, 23 Oct 2025
