Ajax Shake Up XI for Fortuna Sittard Clash

Ajax head to Fortuna Sittard with a point to prove in the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie, and Míchel has underlined that with a bold team sheet featuring two debutants in the starting XI.

The 3-1 defeat to PSV still stings. This time, there are clear changes.

Marc ter Stegen is trusted between the posts in Sittard. In front of him, Anton Gaaei slots in on the right side of a back four, while Thilo Kehrer replaces Aaron Bouwman in central defence. Bouwman is still recovering from the heavy challenge by Ruben van Bommel last week, so Youri Baas partners Kehrer at the heart of the defence. Caio Henrique starts at left-back, completing a reshaped back line.

The biggest statement comes in midfield. After stepping off the bench for his debut against PSV, Sofyan Amrabat now walks straight into the starting XI. He anchors a trio alongside Jorthy Mokio and Julian Brandt against Danny Buijs’ Fortuna side, with Davy Klaassen pushed down to the bench.

Out wide, Steven Berghuis keeps his place on the right and gets another chance to ignite Ajax’s attack. On the opposite flank, Oliver Edvardsen starts on the left, looking to stretch Fortuna’s defence. Through the middle, Tolu Arokodare leads the line as the focal point for the visitors from Amsterdam.

Ajax have made their move. Now the question is whether this reshuffled side can deliver the response their season already seems to demand.