Arokodare explains touchline exchange with Ajax boss

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

The 25-year-old scored twice as Ajax won 6-1 away in Denmark in the league phase of the competition.

Arokodare put the Dutch side ahead in the ninth minute before fellow Nigerian, Friday Etim, levelled for Midtjylland in the 28th minute. The former Genk striker restored Ajax’s lead seven minutes after the break, finishing a move created by Abdellah Ouazane.

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

The brace took Arokodare’s tally to 12 goals in 16 appearances for Ajax this season. Six have come in the Eredivisie and six in the Conference League and its qualifiers. He has also provided four assists.

In the first half, however, the striker and Sánchez were seen exchanging animated hand gestures near the touchline as they tried to communicate.

Asked about the moment by reporter Noa Vahle, after the final whistle, Arokodare said the coach wanted him to run into spaces more instead of focusing on the opposing 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.

“He is a very funny man. You (the media) can’t understand the relationship we have.”

The Nigerian also described the result as a big boost for the team.

“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 now turn their attention to Sunday’s Eredivisie clash with FC Twente.