Arokodare Explains Touchline Exchange With Ajax Boss

Super Eagles forward Tolu Arokodare has explained his animated touchline exchange with Ajax head coach Míchel Sánchez during the Dutch club’s 6-1 UEFA Conference League victory over FC Midtjylland on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Nigerian striker scored twice as Ajax recorded an emphatic away win in Denmark in the league phase of the competition.

Arokodare opened the scoring in the ninth minute before fellow Nigerian Friday Etim equalised for Midtjylland in the 28th minute. The former Genk striker restored Ajax’s lead seven minutes into the second half, finishing a move created by Abdellah Ouazane.

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Owen Wijndal, Davy Klaassen, Oscar Gloukh and substitute Marcos Leonardo subsequently completed the rout.

The brace took Arokodare’s tally to 12 goals in 16 appearances for Ajax this season, with six coming in the Eredivisie and six in the Conference League and its qualifiers. He has also registered four assists.

However, attention briefly turned to the striker’s animated exchange with Sánchez during the first half, as the pair were seen gesticulating near the touchline while attempting to communicate.

Asked about the incident by reporter Noa Vahle after the final whistle, Arokodare explained that his manager wanted him to attack spaces rather than concentrate too much on the opposition defender.

“He tried to tell me that I shouldn’t focus too much on the defender and that I should run into the spaces more. From a distance, I didn’t understand what he meant, so I had to come over to him to ask him to explain it better. And he did, so yeah,” he said.

Describing his relationship with the coach, the Nigerian added, “He is a very funny man. You (the media) can’t understand the relationship we have.”

Arokodare also expressed satisfaction with Ajax’s performance, describing the result as an important boost ahead of their next fixture.

“I always try to score. I received good passes from my teammates. I am happy that I was able to score, that we scored six goals, and that various players recorded goals and assists. Victories like this are great for the team. It is a big victory to take into the next match. The next match won’t be easy,” he added.

Ajax will now shift their attention to Sunday’s Eredivisie encounter against FC Twente.