Tolu Arokodare: Why Ajax coach was displeased despite striker’s goal vs PSV

Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare scored in Ajax's 1-3 loss to PSV over the weekend, but his performance looked to have gotten on the bad side of the club's coach Míchel Sánchez, Soccernet.ng reports.

Arokodare started the Eredivisie clash at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Saturday and scored Ajax’s equaliser in the 23rd minute after Ricardo Pepi had put PSV ahead five minutes into the game.

However, the 25-year-old was withdrawn in the 61st minute, with Kasper Dolberg coming on as Míchel made changes to his attack.

The decision came despite Arokodare having continued his impressive start to life in Amsterdam by scoring his fifth goal for Ajax.

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Why Ajax coach was displeased with Tolu Arokodare

Míchel explained after the game that Arokodare was taken off because Ajax needed more energy and fresh legs in attack.

The Spanish coach said some of his players were struggling to maintain their energy levels after the interval, while admitting that Arokodare had not been at his best.

“Due to a lack of energy. He is a player we all support,” Míchel said in quotes revealed by Ajax Showtime.

“Perhaps he [Arokodare] wasn't playing at his best level and we needed fresh legs to press and try to find space in behind the defence,” the 50-year-old said.

The Ajax boss also revealed that he had expected more from Arokodare in the opening stages of the match.

“We said that he would be important as a focal point. He had to enable us to hold onto the ball and allow us to play as a team. I wasn't pleased with his first actions,” he added.

“Ultimately, I am very passionate, and so is he.

“From the sidelines, we see everything much more clearly. I have asked him to put more determination and energy into his actions,” the coach concluded.

Despite Arokodare’s goal, Ajax were unable to recover from PSV’s second goal just before half-time.

Lutsharel Geertruida restored the visitors’ advantage in the first-half stoppage time before Esmir Bajraktarević completed the scoring in the 92nd minute.

Ajax currently sit sixth on the Eredivisie table after four games with seven points, winning two, losing one and drawing another. Up next for the Dutch side is a trip down south as they face Fortuna Sittard on Saturday.