Tolu Arokodare earns praise from Ajax boss after decisive Atalanta goal

Ajax manager Michel Sanchez praised Tolu Arokodare after the Nigeria forward came off the bench to score in his side’s 2-0 win over Atalanta in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday.

Arokodare was introduced in the 66th minute at Johan Cruyff Arena, with Ajax still unable to break the deadlock. His impact was decisive late in the match when he controlled a long pass from Youri Baas before calmly sending the ball beyond Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi in the 87th minute.

Abdellah Ouazane then added Ajax’s second goal in stoppage time to complete the victory.

Sanchez said Arokodare was brought on specifically to provide a stronger presence in the penalty area. The Ajax coach also credited the other substitutes with helping to improve the team’s display after their arrival.

“I brought him on to create more threat in the penalty area. Sometimes you make substitutions and they don’t work out well, but the return of the players who came off the bench brought about the improvement for me,” he said, as quoted by ESPN.

The goal was Arokodare’s seventh for Ajax in all competitions this season. Three of those goals have come in the UEFA Conference League, while he has scored four times in the Eredivisie.

Sanchez also highlighted the close relationship he has developed with the striker, while stressing that he enjoys a positive connection with the entire Ajax squad.

“I have a great relationship with all the players. Tolu is a special player, as I have already said, and I have a very good relationship with him. But also with the rest of the team.

“I am lucky to have a team that works very hard day in and day out. Managing these kinds of players is sometimes not easy, but they help enormously. They make my job much easier.”

The result secured Ajax’s first three points in the UEFA Conference League league phase. They had begun their campaign with defeat by Hajduk Split.

Arokodare’s late finish provided the breakthrough in a match where Ajax had been unable to convert their earlier efforts, before Ouazane’s stoppage-time strike confirmed the win. His contribution also underlined the value of Sanchez’s changes as Ajax claimed their first victory in the competition’s league phase.