Ajax striker Wout Weghorst grabbed headlines in the Netherlands for more than one reason on Sunday.
The Dutch international scored a brace against NEC to help the Eredivisie giants maintain their unbeaten run 2-1 and sit second in the table.
However, Weghorst was replaced after an hour of action, and in his post-game interview, he criticised manager Francesco Farioli’s decision.
“You know: if I were a coach and my striker is on the field with two goals in the 65th minute, I would never substitute him,” he said.
“You can see what I think about it, right? I don’t understand that. But it’s his choice, his philosophy, his tactics, what he believes in.”
The 32-year-old then revealed he has already had discussions with the boss over the decision.
“I indicate what I believe in, what I think as a striker, as a footballer,” he said.
“I like playing 90 minutes, I like going into the red now and then, to [push] myself a bit. Those are things that I have done my whole career and that I sometimes miss now.
“[Coming off] is something that is new to me.
“Ultimately, it’s about what is best for Ajax and what works. And at the moment it works, we are winning the matches. Several players are successful in that, but it is not the philosophy I believe in.”
Ajax will now face third-place FC Utrecht in their next league match.
📸 MAURICE VAN STEEN