Fan’t Schip: “My wife’s burning desire to return to Ajax, our love started here”

A touching reference to his wife, who passed away not long ago, was made in his first statements as Ajax coach by John Fan’t Schip.

The former Federal coach of Greece emphasized that his return to “Aiantas” was also a decision of his wife, with whom they shared a love for the team.

“It was my wife’s burning desire to return to Ajax. Because it’s my team, it’s her team. Our love started here. Ajax is my club and my wife gave me the go-ahead. I know he is with me“, characteristically emphasized the coach of AEK’s opponent in the Europa League.

Among other things, the rest of the statements of John Van’t Schip, who also mentioned the time he will remain as head coach at Ajax:

What will you start with? What are you going to change?

“You have to start working so that the whole becomes a team. We saw it yesterday against PSV, there is a very big difference in what happens between the first half and the second half. This happened in phases of many matches. You need to give clarity about this».

What is your mission?

“My job is of course what I just said. Make it a team and give clarity. If you look at the goal that the team wants, which is European football, it makes sense. We owe it to our attitude».

In this position, the people at home will think, Ajax is eighteenth. But if you win the two postponed games, you will move to within four points of the fifth-placed Go Ahead Eagles.

“The top four are a long way off. For now we have to focus on fifth place. This is still far from happening, but we have to get there step by step. But of course he starts on Thursday against Volendam. For us it is a big competition to take this first step».

When you look at the footage, with all those bad buys, do you feel like you should be able to finish fifth?



“Yes, that is what we want to pursue. We have to see how much we can strengthen the balance in the selection, what we can change in January. But this is far from the case. We have a lot of games to play first. We have to work hard on it to get the foundation as quickly as possible, because it doesn’t exist».

You have a contract until the end of the season, are there any ifs and buts on that?



“Basically it’s only until the end of the season. Then I go back to the role I would start with. But we all know in football how that works. If things go really bad, do you still want it? If things are going really well, will you continue or not? That’s all for aftercare».

You bring Michalis Balkanis as your right hand man. You worked together in Tsvole, Melbourne and the Greek National Team. Will it be your right hand?

“I took him with me on purpose. You have to join a club in a very short time where a lot has to be done. I can trust him blindly. He knows what I want from me and I know what he can do. This is a very important base to start from. You have to look at the staff we have available to see who can do what well. We have to show the boys that we are a team too. It is clear that Michalis is important».

Have you talked to Maduro about this?



“No, this is only my first day. There are still discussions scheduled for tomorrow morning and practice in the afternoon. So there are still some discussions scheduled first, but I prefer to be on the field now».

Have you spoken to Louis van Gaal yet?



“Yes.”

You are now looking at Volendam, we are looking at some projects below. Then it’s the transfer window again. Who will be responsible for the purchase and sales policy? Because this is of course very important for you in the second half of the season.



“We should do this more together internally. My first task now is the team. I think it can help, because I’m close to it, that I can give advice to the people who are deciding on it.”