Francesco Farioli Q&A: Ajax Boss discusses Jordan Henderson’s memory of England, reviving his part and more | Football news

Ajax boss Francesco Farioli sat down with Sky Sports News‘Paul Gilmour to talk about the midfielder Jordan Henderson, he recalls England, which the Englishman brings to the Dutch club, and the revival he led in Ajax …

Jordan Henderson returned to England as Ajax player. What was your reaction to that call?

“It was great. It was in the game in the morning, so we only had the opportunity to meet breakfast, and he came to this news and, of course, it was really emotional.

“You know how much it means to him that he returns to the team team and I think it is something that is really happy about the team and the club, and for all of us.

What conversations did you take with Jordan and what did you tell him?

“This type of news is always special. So, with Jordan we are really well connected to an emotional point of view for all things that I get from him from the first day because he is a fantastic person, a real leader.

“As you can imagine, his experience, his knowledge, and especially the love of the game, is something that is really unique. For me, as a coach, it is not really difficult to connect with people if they have the desire to improve our normal environment every day.

“He is a player who is only example capable of leading a group and moving all the players in the right direction, and I think in the new trip we have, his role was crucial.

“We have to be very happy. We are really happy about the fact that he will also contribute to the new cycle of England national team.”

There was a big surprise here in England, perhaps a slightly mixed reaction. Some people did not expect Henderson to return to the T -shirt in England. Did you surprise yourself at all?

No, because I believe he is a player who can really bring things.

“With his mentality and his professionalism, you become better in this kind of thing.

“And now that England renews a new story, I believe you need this type of player, especially a human being.”

So what does he give a team at the age of 34?

“Saying experience is really easy because of course, more than 700 professional games are quite a large number.

“However, part of this is a passion for me, the desire to improve every day, despite the age.

“His way of training is really contagious in a positive way. Therefore, to have a leader who leads by example and can help young players create certain standards.

“He is a benchmark for everyone and really facilitates the work of every type of technical staff, especially those who rely on a work ethic and mentality.”

Work with him every day, but supporters do not see so much behind the scenes. Can you give any concrete examples of what he brings? You mentioned the lead. Do you have any specific examples of things that people don’t see?

“There are many.

“It’s a part where as a fan or as a journalist, for example, what you see is exactly what happens on the day of the game. But get there well prepared, work and details and mental status of the team are key.

“You can’t really build it yourself because in the end I believe that even the best ideas, if you are unable to share and create a relationship and connect with your players, you are unable to do anything.

“For me, this is a really starting point for me – the ability to connect people. And connect people, first of all, you have to have a vision, a clear plan about where you want to go and direction.

“But after you have human beings who are capable of trusting and taking a step, because in the end every time in football it goes a lot with faith and what you really feel deep inside.

“My first conversation with Jordan was mostly dealt with by these kinds of things, even more than talking about football.

“Of course, that was part of my explanation, his role. With us, he plays more as number six than as number eight, which he used in Liverpool.

“So, I explain how I see him, why I see him there, what kind of requirements we have in the way of playing. But above all, what were my expectations of him as a possible captain, because last season he was not a team captain.

“After a few conversations, it was easy to make a decision to give him a ribbon. I believe you cannot ask for a better captain in your team as a coach.

So, we talked about his leadership qualities and human qualities. You mentioned there about playing six instead of eight. Is that the way he adjusted his game? Does he show signs that he is flexible and can adjust his real game at that age?

“Yes, definitely. His spirit and desire to constantly learn from all are crazy. So it shows a lot about his humility.

“It is also a characteristic that it is really important to me for a football player. Also, his curiosity. These are always the key elements that really connect with football players and connect with that person.

“If after winning the Champions League, you still have the desire to discover a new position, discover new requirements, discover a new way of playing, this says a lot.

“As I said before, about passion and love for the game, I think his passion is another.”

You and Thomas Tuchel are on the same page when it comes to Henderson, because Tuchel said he embodies everything we try to build. He is a serial winner. Do you think Jordan can help England approach his dream of raising the World Cup?

“It was very funny because I had my normal routine in the morning and then an interview. So, they asked me my feelings.

“Of course, I used some keywords that Tuchel said a few hours later at his press conference.

“This is not because we talked among us, but only because if you are lucky and the opportunity to connect with Jordan and talk to him, his characteristics will be very clear to everyone.

“If you are talking about his role in this process of new England, I do not doubt and fully support the decision of Tuchel.”

Jordan is part of your team and after two difficult seasons, we cannot mention how you have passed this season so far. Of course, there is a lot of football to play, but there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for fans, a really strong relationship between you and the team and fans. It has to feel pretty good that I turned it up that way …

“The narrative was very clear to us and this was the main part of the first conversation I was running with Jordan when we met at the training center. We started talking and I mentioned the fact that last season and last two seasons, but especially last season, was full of scratches for the club and for the players who were there.

“Going inside at the moment, it’s not really my way of thinking to say, now it’s a new page. No, it never likes it in a football life. It’s never an empty page. If you want, you have to clean it.

“I felt that it was important to be visible to pain and suffering somehow the club had in the last two years, because in an instant you have to decide which way to go.

“I think it is a very good reminder to have some of your skin still some signals of the pain you have had in the past. So, my message to Jordan and after that time, we like to refresh, this is a really sharp, really motivated and devoted to a club that, as you can imagine, a massive club at the European Club.

“The responsibility that goes with this is massive and we have to have players ready for it. But as I said before, human beings who really want to do something special and want to sacrifice everything to try to give some luck to Ajax to the world.”

You came across a club in a positive attitude after those difficult years and deal with all that pressure coming to a massive club like Ajax. To do this at the age of 35, have you found yourself a lot of learning in the last few years?

“My previous experiences in different countries are really valuable opportunities to get a little more, a little more sound to the challenges we face. After, in every environment, in every country, in every club, you always have different difficulties or different challenges.

“I really like to believe that there is no plan that goes with everything. So you enter a new club and that is what we have done here with our beliefs, with our game mode, with our ideas, with our behavior we want to see from players, and especially of us. To be an example and a leader of a new project.

“After you enter and when you enter, it is always important that we feel what happens around, because you have a picture on the outside, but in the first five to six days you have to be really able to adapt, be flexible, understand and may change something from the plans you have.

“This is always one of the most exciting parts when you have the opportunity to enter the club with disabilities and approach business with proper energy and appropriate vibrations.

I know part of pressure in a big club like Ajax or England, it’s like Manchester United and Liverpool. These bigger clubs seem to have so much more control over them. So, because of this, because they have achieved such success in the past, whenever you hear the public praise of someone like Louis Van Gaal and the people who have won success in the historic club, it must certainly give you so much confidence …

“Having the support of an amazing mentor and an iconic coach like Van Gaal is something really powerful.

“Our daily job at a club with this type of heritage, with this type of past is something that is important to have clear. There is a strong motivation, but I also believe that it is crucial for all of us to continue to move and have a clear desire to move forward.

“There is no future without the past. But it is also really important to live in the present. And if possible, work a little with one eye to the future, because football changes quickly.

“You have to be part of what changes in football, and for this job you need a lot of humility and curiosity, because every day you have to discuss your thoughts and attack yourself before anyone else.

“This is key, and the club here, Ajax, is a huge club with a very clear DNA, and also, with a very clear business model about the fact that young players need to develop.

“Also, we had the opportunity to have two new calls for some other national teams. Jorthy Mokio is only 17 years old with the first team of Belgium. Youri Baas is also with the first team of the Netherlands.

“So individuals help the collective grow, and the collective helps individuals to fulfill their wishes and dreams.”