It has been tough for Arsene over the last few weeks with a disappointing run of form and an embarrassing exit from the League Cup. Both praise and support have become a rarity lately; in fact, a number of ex-players and pundits have been highly critical of Arsene’s tactics, general style of management and player purchases.
All of this cannot be easy for the beleaguered Wenger at the moment, so, it must be great for him that nobody less than the most famous Dutch master of football, Johan Cruijff himself, is using Arsenal as an example of how Ajax should organise itself.
Cruijff wrote today, in his personal column in the Dutch paper ‘De Telegraaf’, that Arsene Wenger has found the right formula on how to be successful in top football without jeopardising the club’s financial position. He said: ‘His [Wenger] work is also for Ajax an example of how it should be done. Don’t let yourself get crazy by the rest, but stick with what you are good at. So, that means education, efficient scouting, and sharp dealings with regards to buying and selling players.’
Cruijff believes this is the best way forward and that it is important to stick with it, especially when a team goes through turbulent times: ‘It can happen now and again you suffer from a set-back, as is currently the case at Arsenal, but in the end things will come good again by sticking with this formula.’
And there is further praise for Arsene: ‘I think it is incredibly impressive, that under his [Wenger’s] management the club [Arsenal] have remained at the top for years, without getting into depth once. Arsene has turned out to be able to identify himself as one with Arsenal.’
And Cruijff wants his Ajax to stick to the same formula: ‘That is what we should do with Ajax. We should profile ourselves as the great youth educator of Europe: because a restriction does not always mean a shortcoming.’
I bet this will bring a rare smile to Arsene’s face, and if Cruijff says it, it must be true: because he really knows! 😉
Total Arsenal.
Bergkampesque 