Several Ajax Amsterdam fans were detained by Czech police after attempting to force their way into Slavia Prague’s Eden Park stadium without tickets ahead of their Europa League match. Police were forced to use ‘coercive measures’ to control the situation.
Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad has secured the services of winger Steven Bergwijn from Ajax Amsterdam for a fee exceeding 21 million euros. The transfer marks the end of Bergwijn’s successful stint with the Dutch giants, who had acquired him from Tottenham Hotspur in 2022 for a record transfer fee in the Eredivisie.
Former European champions Ajax, Chelsea, and FCSB all secured their places in the group stages of European competitions on Thursday. Ajax dominated their Europa League tie, while Chelsea survived a scare in the Conference League. FCSB, meanwhile, edged past their Austrian opponents.
The highly anticipated Dutch football ‘Klassieker’ between Feyenoord and Ajax has been cancelled due to a planned police strike. The Rotterdam municipality made the decision citing safety concerns as police will not be present at the game. The police union is demanding improved early retirement regulations.
FC Twente will face Almere City on Wednesday with the chance to secure their grip on third place in the Eredivisie. Almere City, on the other hand, needs a win to guarantee their spot in the top flight for another year. Meanwhile, Ajax will host SBV Excelsior, knowing they must win to remain in contention for fourth place. Excelsior, who are just one point above the relegation zone, will be looking to build on their recent victory.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has defended his record after facing criticism for his team’s performance in the FA Cup. United limped into the final after needing a penalty shootout to beat second-tier Coventry, despite taking a 3-0 lead. Ten Hag admitted that United were fortunate to advance, but he hit out at critics who have questioned his future. He pointed to United’s back-to-back FA Cup finals as evidence of his success and dismissed the criticism as “a disgrace.” United will face Manchester City in a repeat of last year’s final on May 25. Ten Hag won the Dutch Cup with Ajax in 2019 and 2021 and was runner up in 2022. He also won three Dutch league titles with Ajax and reached the semifinals of the Champions League in 2019. Despite his success at Ajax, Ten Hag has struggled to build on his early success at United. The team is currently in seventh place and looks set to miss out on the Champions League. New co-owner Jim Ratcliffe is overseeing sweeping changes at the club, and there is speculation about Ten Hag’s position.
