Ajax had no midweek commitments, allowing Míchel to make the most of the extra training time. The team's new signings still need to be brought up to speed, and Míchel's goal is to have all players performing at their best. Amrabat and Mokio have been chosen to start in the midfield, with Amrabat playing in the basis for the first time. This decision was made to provide the team with more speed and energy without the ball, as well as the ability to counter-press when losing possession. The combination of a defensive midfielder and a more attacking midfielder, with Amrabat and Mokio offering different characteristics, was also a key factor in Míchel's decision.