In an extensive interview in the Christmas issue of Voetbal International, Ajax coach Francesco Farioli discusses his much-discussed rotation policy. The Italian explains that it is not only done for physical reasons.
In the mega interview, which can also be read on VI PRO, Farioli talks in detail about what steps Ajax needs to take in his view to become more professional. “Sometimes you have to improve off the field to improve on the field. Only if you raise the standards there a little can you demand more from the players,” says the 35-year-old coach.
These circumstances, plus the number of matches, are reasons why Farioli feels compelled to regularly rest players. If those facilities and the physical guidance are better, and his players have been further developed, will Farioli rotate less? “I don’t know, because I really believe in that,” the Ajax coach says.
‘I know that’s a big topic here, haha. Although the reality is that, except for a few extreme cases, it often only involves a few players. But if you talk about the importance of the group from day one: everyone is important, everyone gets their chance. And then you always play with the same eleven, that is not logical’, he thinks.
‘That’s the strategy: keep everyone involved. If I didn’t have confidence in those players, I would never do it. I’m really not that stupid that I just throw players to the lions, including myself. These are decisions we make for different reasons: where we come from, collectively and individually, the type of competition we expect… Sometimes also with a slightly further look at what will come next, even though my focus is always really on the next .’
Read the full interview with Francesco Farioli on VI PRO, about his challenges at Ajax:
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