Ajax technical director Jordi Cruijff aims to compete for the title this year, but the team's current form suggests otherwise. The team's struggles are evident in their recent draws against Shelbourne and sc Heerenveen, which have dampened the optimism surrounding the signings of Julian Brandt and Marc Ter Stegen.
The team's lack of depth and speed is a major concern, with coach Míchel Sánchez openly requesting two new wingers with more speed on the flanks. The team has already signed 19-year-old left-back Jofre Torrents from FC Barcelona, but more signings are needed to strengthen the squad. Ajax has seven central defenders available, but Ahmetcan Kaplan and Ko Itakura have left the team, and Josip Sutalo is likely to be loaned to Lazio Roma. Owen Wijndal, Anton Gaaei, and Kasper Dolberg may also leave the team.
Ajax is still looking for a defensive midfielder, and the team's recent performances suggest that they are struggling to find the right balance in their squad. The Conference League could be a blessing in disguise for Ajax, which is heavily in transition. However, the team will need to improve significantly if they are to compete for the title this year.
Ajax will face FC Sion tonight in a crucial Conference League match, and the team will be looking to take a step towards the competition's group stage. The match will be broadcast live on NPO Radio 1 and NOS.nl, and will be a crucial test for the team's ability to compete at this level.