Ajax led AZ 1-0 at half-time on Saturday evening at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, but ESPN pundits Arnold Bruggink and Karim El Ahmadi criticised Ajax's intensity without the ball.
Ajax lead before the break
At the Johan Cruyff ArenA, Ajax went ahead after nine minutes. Tolu headed in Abdellah Ouazane's cross for the goal. Julian Brandt went off for Oscar Gloukh in the 38th minute.
El Ahmadi's criticism
Karim El Ahmadi said: "Ajax started reasonably well, with a good goal, but as the match went on, you could see Ajax giving AZ the ball more and more often to make the play."
The former midfielder added: "You're playing at home, and I don't think the energy with which they press is good enough."
El Ahmadi said: "Mokio should really stay where he is, but he thinks: nobody's pressing, so I have to go and press. That takes him out of position and the gaps between the players become really big."
Tolu and the substitution
Karim El Ahmadi singled out Tolu Arokodare for criticism despite his goal. He said: "I don't know whether Brandt was injured early on, but he's been doing this for several matches, and the same goes for Tolu."
El Ahmadi added: "With Gloukh and Tolu, I think it'll only get worse."
He also said: "I can understand why he didn't succeed in the Premier League. If you do this in the Premier League, I think you're substituted straight away."
Bruggink's view
Arnold Bruggink said: "Only then was there movement, and it really started with one very simple action. But I have to say honestly that this was just about the only thing Ajax did with the ball in the first half."
The pundit added: "Modern football is about sprinting. That's what matters, and Ajax simply don't do it at all without the ball."
Bruggink also said: "AZ should really be kicking themselves, but the problem is that they can't hurt their opponents at the moment. They create far too little."
