Necessity opens the door, but the midfield still has to walk through it.
Wout Weghorst scored against FC Twente last weekend, but it wasn't enough. Ajax lost 2-1 at home, a result that stung the Amsterdam club and left manager Óscar García visibly unsatisfied with what he saw in the middle of the park. Now, five days later, Ajax board a bus to Almelo looking for the kind of win that doesn't just collect three points — it restores a little dignity.
Their opponents on Saturday evening are Heracles Almelo, sitting at the foot of the Eredivisie table. Kick-off is at 9:00 pm local time, with the match broadcast live on ESPN 2. On paper, this is the fixture Ajax need right now: a struggling side, a forgiving venue, a chance to run up a convincing scoreline and quiet the noise.
García has made two changes to the starting eleven. Sean Steur comes back into the lineup, and Oscar Gloukh gets another opportunity — both adjustments driven largely by necessity rather than pure selection preference. The midfield has been hollowed out by injury and absence. Davy Klaassen, Youri Regeer, and Kian Fitz-Jim are all unavailable, and Joeri Heerkens faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines after an ankle injury. Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is still working his way back to full fitness and won't feature.
In goal, Maarten Paes keeps his place despite a run of criticism that has followed him through recent weeks. The back four sees Anton Gaaei and Lucas Rosa at full-back, with Josip Sutalo and Youri Baas paired together in the center. It is a defensive unit that will need to be organized and sharp — even against a bottom-of-the-table side, complacency has a way of compounding problems.
Jorthy Mokio brings some good news into the week. The midfielder signed a new contract on Thursday, a moment of institutional confidence in a player who will now look to justify that faith with a performance in Almelo. Alongside Steur and Gloukh, he forms a midfield trio assembled more from available parts than ideal design — which is precisely what has García concerned.
Out wide, Steven Berghuis holds his position on the right flank, while Mika Godts carries the attacking threat from the left. Up front, Weghorst leads the line against a club he once called home. He scored last week and will be eager to do so again, this time on the right side of the result.
The broader picture for Ajax is complicated. They sit six points behind Feyenoord in the race for second place, and the gap is unlikely to close this weekend regardless of what happens in Almelo. Feyenoord face third-placed NEC, who trail the Rotterdam side by just a single point — meaning the top of the table will be reshuffled one way or another before Sunday is out. Ajax can only control their own result, and right now, that means going to Heracles and winning without drama.
Whether García's patched-together midfield can provide the platform for that remains the central question of the evening.
Notable Quotes
García is particularly concerned about his side's midfield heading into the Heracles fixture.— Goal.com reporting on Óscar García's pre-match outlook
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a loss to Twente feel so significant for a club like Ajax?
Because Ajax don't just play for points — they play for a certain image of themselves. Losing 2-1 at home to a rival cuts at that identity.
And García's concern about the midfield — is that a tactical worry or a personnel one?
Mostly personnel. When you're missing Klaassen, Regeer, and Fitz-Jim all at once, you're not choosing your best shape — you're filling gaps.
Does Gloukh getting another chance suggest García trusts him, or just that there's no one else?
Probably both. Necessity opens the door, but García wouldn't put him in if he didn't think he could contribute something real.
What's the significance of Jorthy Mokio signing a new contract right before this match?
It's a signal — from the club to the player, and from the player to himself. Now he has to go out and play like someone who deserved it.
Weghorst against his former club — does that kind of narrative actually affect how players perform?
Sometimes. Strikers especially tend to carry a point to prove into those matches. He scored last week; he'll want to do it again tonight.
Is second place still realistic for Ajax this season?
Six points behind Feyenoord with the season winding down — it's not impossible, but it requires Feyenoord to stumble and Ajax to be nearly perfect.
And Heracles at the bottom of the table — is there any danger in this fixture?
There's always danger when a team has nothing to lose. Heracles will fight. The risk for Ajax is treating it as a formality.