Liverpool boss Arne Slot and his former assistant Johnny Heitinga both suffered chastening nights in the Champions League this week.
The Dutch duo are both facing mini-crises at different European giants, months after claiming Premier League title glory together.
Ajax were torn apart by Marseille in the Champions LeagueGettyHeitinga, who was Slot’s right-hand man at Anfield last season, left the club to become the new Ajax manager at the end of May.
However, club legend Heitinga is already facing huge pressure after a miserable first return to the Champions League since 2022.
Ajax were thrashed 4-0 away at Marseille, and had just two shots on target without scoring for a second successive European game.
It was the four-time Champions League winners’ second straight defeat in the competition, following a 2-0 loss to Inter Milan.
Ajax now sit second from bottom in the 36-team league phase table, only above Kazakhstan side Kairat Almaty on goal difference.
Heitinga’s men are unbeaten in the Eredivisie, but are yet to win away this season and sit four points adrift of leaders Feyenoord in third.
Ronald de Boer, who played for Ajax across two separate spells as a player, explained the dire situation at the club live on talkSPORT Breakfast.
“At the moment, very bad,” the 55-year-old admitted. “John Heitinga, who was the assistant coach of Arne Slot at Liverpool, took over.
“He’s, of course, an Ajax icon, and he at the moment, his team is not performing well, although in the league he didn’t lose, but he drew three times, [and] didn’t win one away game yet.
“So it’s a crisis in Amsterdam, because especially, we want more than only results in Amsterdam. The people want to be entertained, and that is something that’s definitely not happening.”
Give Heitinga more time
Ajax experienced a dramatic overhaul in the summer, following the departures of several key stars, including Jordan Henderson.
The Brentford star captained and made more than 50 appearances for the Dutch side, but terminated his contract a year early in July.
The England international’s boyhood club, Sunderland, went on to sign his former Ajax teammate, Brian Brobbey, on deadline day.
Highly-rated defender Jorrel Hato also moved to Chelsea in a deal worth around £37million, with little money for Heitinga to spend.
To add insult to literal injury, Branco van den Boomen, Kasper Dolberg, and Wout Weghorst have all been in the treatment room.
Ajax have suffered two defeats from two in Europe without scoring a goalGetty“It’s stressful for Heitinga,” De Boer added on talkSPORT.
“I think you have to give him a little bit more time, in my opinion, because not every player he has is able to play 90 minutes due to a lot of injuries.
“When everybody’s fit, I think then you can really judge him, but yeah, the pressure is unbelievably high, especially after yesterday, with 4-0, it was horrifying as an Ajax fan.”
Heitinga was visibly frustrated as his side were well beaten by MarseilleGettyWhat has Slot said about Heitinga?
The former Everton defender joined Slot’s Liverpool coaching staff in 2024 and even attracted managerial interest from West Brom.
The 41-year-old had spent the 2023/24 season at West Ham as an assistant but left alongside now-Toffees manager David Moyes.
Speaking about Heitinga last season, Slot said: “One of the reasons why we work together is because we have so much in common, if it’s about playing style, game model or the changes we make during the game.
“He is now here with me, and I couldn’t have wished for more. Very, if I say, talented, I do not even rate him high enough because he’s more than that already, he’s been a head coach himself, but he’s still young.
“He grew into our staff from the start in a very good manner. He has the same idea about football, that’s why I chose him to come to us as well. But the way he is with the boys is very positive.
“All the things we do, we do together.”
Ex-Everton man Heitinga helped Liverpool to the titleGettyHeitinga’s replacement at Liverpool
Heitinga started his coaching career at boyhood club Ajax in 2017, shortly after retiring with them as a player.
Following his arrival as their new manager earlier this year, Liverpool moved to employ Giovanni van Bronckhorst as Slot’s new No.2.
Yet the pair already have their work cut out to replicate the success experienced during Heitinga’s season-long stint at Anfield.
Liverpool spent £446million this summer, but their 1-0 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray was their second straight defeat.
The Reds’ 2-1 loss against Crystal Palace last Saturday ended their unbeaten start to their Premier League title defence.
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