Ajax will go into Saturday evening’s home match against NEC with several players unavailable, forcing Míchel Sánchez to alter his team selection. The coach said before the game that he has multiple absences to deal with, and that means changes are expected across the pitch rather than in just one area.
The clearest issue for Ajax is that the unavailable players affect defense, midfield and attack at the same time. That makes the predicted lineup harder to read, because the usual balance of the side will have to change as the team tries to cover each missing position. For a match like Ajax vs NEC, that kind of disruption can shape both the starting eleven and the way Ajax sets up during the game.
What the absences mean for Ajax
One confirmed setback is that Kasper Dolberg will not play again this season because of a serious injury. That removes an attacking option from Ajax for the rest of the campaign and leaves the coaching staff with one fewer proven choice up front.
Before Saturday evening, Míchel Sánchez made it clear that several players were not available, so this is not a case of one isolated change. Instead, Ajax must work around a broader selection problem. The result is that the expected lineup for NEC is being shaped as much by absences as by form.
That creates extra pressure on the players who are available. In a match at home, Ajax will still be expected to control more of the game, but the adjusted selection could influence how aggressive the team is in possession and how much protection it keeps behind the ball. With multiple changes required, the focus for Ajax will be on finding a workable balance rather than simply naming the strongest available eleven.
Who could step in
The source points to a predicted Ajax lineup rather than a confirmed starting eleven, so the exact changes are not final. What is clear is that Míchel Sánchez must replace missing players in several areas and make sure the team remains organized against NEC.
That makes this one of those matches where the lineup itself becomes part of the story. For Ajax, the question is not only who starts, but how the side responds to the absence of key options and whether the available squad can absorb the changes without losing too much structure.
