Ajax Boss Farioli Shakes Up Lineup for FC Groningen Clash
In a move that is set to raise eyebrows among football fans, Ajax manager Francesco Farioli has announced a revamped lineup for his team’s upcoming match against FC Groningen, as reported by Voetbalzone. The Italian tactician has made several key changes to his starting XI, following a less-than-convincing performance against NEC.
According to Voetbalzone, Daniele Rugani has been demoted to the bench, with Jorthy Mokio taking his place as left back. Wout Weghorst, who scored against NEC, must now watch from the sidelines as Brian Brobbey takes his spot in the starting lineup. The match is set to kick off at 20:00 and will be broadcast live on ESPN 2.
The changes are not limited to the defensive and attacking departments, with Voetbalzone stating that Remko Pasveer, who returned from injury last weekend, will continue to guard the goal in Euroborg. Farioli has also opted to shuffle his defensive unit, with Hato playing in a central role for the first time this season, alongside Josip Sutalo. Anton Gaaei will operate as right back, while Mokio, as mentioned earlier, will feature on the left.
In midfield, Voetbalzone reports that Kian Fitz-Jim will replace Davy Klaassen, with captain Jordan Henderson taking on a more controlling role. The English midfielder will be supported by Kenneth Taylor.
Upfront, Voetbalzone confirms that Brobbey has been preferred to Weghorst, with Bertrand Traoré starting on the right flank. Meanwhile, Mika Godts will play ahead of Steven Berghuis, who has been consigned to the bench.
The changes come at a crucial time for Ajax, who are currently top of the league but only lead second-placed PSV by a single point, according to Voetbalzone. A win against FC Groningen is essential if they are to maintain their advantage on the final matchday.
Ahead of the match, Farioli expressed his gratitude to the travelling Ajax fans, telling Ajax TV and reported by Voetbalzone: "I know that around a thousand Ajax fans will make the journey to Groningen to support us. They are incredibly important. Even on Sunday, after a tough day at the Johan Cruijff Arena, it was wonderful to see the majority of our fans behind us."
Team Lineups:
FC Groningen: Vaessen, Rente, Ekdal, Blokzijl, Prins; Resink, Bacuna, Kwakman, Schreuders; Van Bergen, Valente.
Ajax: Pasveer; Gaaei, Sutalo, Hato, Mokio; Fitz-Jim, Henderson, Taylor; Traoré, Brobbey, Godts.
The information used in this article was sourced from Voetbalzone.
