Ajax Vs Groningen: García Loses 3 Players Before Thursday Play-Off
Ajax vs Groningen now carries an immediate personnel blow: Ajax will be without Josip Šutalo, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ko Itakura for Thursday evening’s European play-off semi-final. Oscar García delivered the update before the match, leaving Ajax short of three players for a game that moves the winner closer to the UEFA Conference League.
García’s Ajax setback
García said the three players were unavailable after setbacks. “These players have suffered setbacks and are unavailable. That's unfortunate, especially when you only find out for certain on the day before the match.”
The match kicks off on Thursday evening at 18:45, and Ajax head into it with a narrow margin for error. If the tie is level after ninety minutes, extra time follows, so the opening phase will matter even more for a side missing depth in key areas.
De Toekomst before Groningen
Ajax trained at the De Toekomst sports complex on Tuesday before turning to Groningen. The preparation comes after split results in the two league meetings between the sides: Ajax won 2-0 at home in December, then lost 3-1 away.
That split leaves little room for comfort. FC Groningen are ninth in the league, and Ajax have already seen how quickly the matchup can shift from one venue to another. García also wants the team to treat the game as a fresh route into Europe rather than a setback from missing out.
Conference League target
“We have to see it as a new opportunity to play European football next season. We’re not thinking about missing out. It’s a privilege to play for Ajax. That should be motivation enough for the players to get a result. And if Ajax qualifies for the UEFA Conference League, it will automatically be one of the favourites for the tournament. I’ve told the players that as well,” García said.
He added that Ajax’s standards remain higher than fifth place and made the physical demand clear, pointing to the intensity Groningen can bring and the workload Ajax have already handled in recent matches. García said he expects eleven fighters on the pitch and wants the team to avoid extra time if possible, because the next step in their European path starts with handling this semi-final at 18:45.
