Ajax head coach Míchel Sánchez has praised Tolu Arokodare after the striker helped his side secure a 2 0 win over Atalanta in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday.
Ajax dominated for long spells at the Johan Cruyff ArenA but struggled to turn their chances into goals. However, late strikes from Arokodare and Abdellah Ouazane secured a deserved victory and gave the Dutch side their first European win of the season.
Míchel was pleased with his players’ performance and praised their ability to maintain pressure against a strong opponent.
“I think we played a great match against a great opponent,” Míchel told Ziggo Sport. “We dominated the match and created a lot of chances. In the end, we scored, and I’m very happy with the players’ performances.”
Despite Ajax’s control of the game, the Spanish coach admitted that his side could have made better decisions in the final third. He believes sharper attacking play would have helped them take the lead much earlier.
“Perhaps we could sometimes have found better solutions or made better decisions in the final third, which would have put us ahead earlier,” the manager acknowledges. “But the team’s mentality was excellent throughout the match, both when pressing and when winning the ball back after losing it.”
Míchel highlights Arokodare’s impact off the bench
Arokodare entered the game in the 66th minute, replacing Marcos Leonardo. The Super Eagles striker made an immediate impact and scored the opening goal late in the match.
However, Míchel stressed that the forward deserved recognition for more than his goal. The coach also highlighted his work rate and determination as Ajax pushed to break Atalanta’s resistance.
“Tolu played a great match too, but not just because of his goal. It was also about the mentality with which he kept pushing when the team started to get a little more tired,” Míchel explained. “The substitutions gave us new energy, and that is the most important thing: everyone is important, both the players who start and those who finish the match.”
Tolu Arokodare recorded two shots, with one on target, and completed 75 per cent of his passes. He also provided the assist for Ouazane’s second goal and registered eight touches during his time on the pitch.
Ouazane’s late strike sealed the result and earned further praise from the Ajax manager. Míchel was impressed by the youngster’s quality but stressed the need for continued development.
“It was a great goal, a truly fantastic goal,” the coach enthused. “He is a boy with incredible talent, but we have to keep working with him so that he becomes more consistent in his play. He is a special player, and we have to help him show that talent in an Ajax shirt for a very long time.”
The victory marked Ajax’s 10th match of the season across all competitions. Arokodare has now scored five goals and provided two assists across the Eredivisie and UEFA Conference League campaigns.
His latest contribution strengthens his case for a more prominent role as Ajax look to build on their first European victory of the season.
