1 week ago
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Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer said the team’s decline under John Heitinga is partly due to the loss of “clear leader” Jordan Henderson.
The ex-Liverpool man spent 18 months at Ajax, helping the side mount a title tilt last season, although that ultimately ended in disappointment as Feyenoord clinched first spot on the final day of the campaign. Henderson left Ajax over the summer and the club’s form has since taken a sharp downturn.
The midweek defeat against Chelsea means the Amsterdam club now sits bottom of the Champions League league phase having lost all three European games this term. Ajax is also nine points off the Eredivisie summit, with just four wins from nine league games.
The pressure is already building on Heitinga, who left Liverpool’s coaching team over the summer to become head coach. But Pasveer, who made his first appearance of the season in the 5-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge, said Henderson’s exit is a major factor in Ajax’s blip.
“We’re playing a little differently, and in Jordan Henderson, we’ve lost a clear leader,” he said after the loss in London.
“He held everything together, and you definitely miss that. Because a player like that is important for a team with so many young players. You do miss a bit more direction now.”
Meanwhile, Henderson is gearing up for his first reunion with Liverpool since his 2023 departure.
The England international joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq in controversial circumstances, before signing for Ajax a few months later.
Henderson returned to the Premier League last summer when he joined Brentford and teamed up with ex-Reds Caoimhin Kelleher, Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho in west London.
The Bees host Liverpool on Saturday, meaning Henderson will come up against the side he captained to Premier League and Champions League glory for the first time.
“He's an absolute legend of our club, what he has done for us within our changing room and the trophies he lifted and guided and led us to trophies,” said Andy Robertson after Wednesday’s 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, while revealing he has not messaged his former team-mate ahead of the clash at the Gtech Community Stadium.
“He's an absolute legend for all of us who were lucky enough to play with him, he's a legend to the fans and everyone connected with the club. It will be nice to see him but I know he will be up for the fight like he always is.
“Our midfield will have a hell of a battle against him, like all our players will because Brentford are a tough team. Hopefully if we get the win I can have a nice catch-up with him after the game.”
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