Can Ajax Still Win the Eredivisie? Sunday's Crucial Matches
Ajax's title chances remain alive despite a 2-2 draw against FC Groningen. Manager Francesco Farioli stays optimistic ahead of the final match.
Ajax manager Francesco Farioli remains optimistic about his team's title chances despite the 2-2 draw against FC Groningen. Farioli believes that anything can happen in football, and Ajax will aim to capitalize on this unpredictability in the final weekend of the season.
The dramatic draw, where Groningen equalized in the 99th minute, dropped Ajax to second place in the Eredivisie standings. They now trail reigning champions PSV by one point, setting up a thrilling finale to the season.
Ajax, under Francesco Farioli, made a remarkable recovery from a slump that saw them struggle in previous seasons. However, they've given away a 9-point lead in the latter stages of the Eredivisie. “It is never easy to have to talk about a draw after conceding a goal in the final seconds of a game,” Farioli said after the 2-2 draw against FC Groningen.
The dramatic equalizer in the 99th minute cost Ajax the lead in the Eredivisie, and they now trail PSV by one point heading into the final weekend. Despite the setback, Farioli remains hopeful about Ajax's title chances.
“It is what it is, and we now have one game to go. Let's go. Sometimes you cheer exuberantly after a goal in the last minute, sometimes you have to cry really hard. That's part of football. Today we were able to learn a lot, that's it.”
Groningen's Thijmen Blokzijl scored the equalizer in the 99th minute, tapping in after Josip Sutalo gave away a late free-kick. Ajax's chances of winning were dashed by the dramatic late goal.
Ajax manager Francesco Farioli declined to blame individual players for the draw, saying, “Football is all about mistakes.” This approach reflects his focus on the team's overall performance rather than singling out specific players for criticism.
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) May 14, 2025
“I never talk about individuals. It's always about the team when you score or get a goal against. No, I can't blame them for anything. The same spirit was there that has already brought us to where we are now, and why we are competing at the top. We always do our best, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough.”
Ajax Coach Farioli Remains Optimistic Despite Title Slip-Up
After Ajax's win over PSV in late March, which gave them a 9-point lead with seven games to go, Farioli cautioned the fans that the job wasn't done. “There are seven games, seven battles left,” he emphasized, highlighting the challenges ahead.
Repeating this mantra ahead of Sunday's game against FC Twente, Farioli said, “There is one more game to go, one more battle. It is what it is, and I think football teaches us that anything can happen.” Despite the narrowed lead, Farioli remains hopeful about Ajax's title prospects.
Ajax still has a chance to win the Eredivisie title on Sunday. To achieve this, they'll need to beat FC Twente and rely on Sparta Rotterdam to at least draw against league leaders PSV. Both crucial matches kick off simultaneously on Sunday at 14:30 CET.
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