Two-goal hero Tolu Arokodare explains tactical instruction from Míchel Sánchez in 6-1 Ajax win
Tolu Arokodare cleared up a miscommunication with Ajax manager Míchel Sánchez after netting a brace during his team’s commanding 6-1 victory over FC Midtjylland in the UEFA Conference League.
Super Eagles forward Tolu Arokodare addressed a animated first-half interaction with Ajax head coach Míchel Sánchez during their UEFA Conference League encounter against Danish side FC Midtjylland.
Following a brief moment where the pair exchanged expressive hand gestures near the sideline, the 25-year-old striker clarified that the conversation centered entirely around on-pitch positioning rather than frustration.
The manager sought to instruct Arokodare to stop battling directly with central defenders and instead attack the open spaces behind the opposition line.
Due to noise and distance, Arokodare approached the bench during a pause in play to receive clearer tactical guidance.
The tactical tweak paid immediate dividends for the Amsterdam club.
Arokodare opened the scoring in the ninth minute before FC Midtjylland drew level. Early in the second half, the Nigerian striker restored Ajax’s lead by finishing a team move, opening the floodgates for a decisive 6-1 away triumph.
The double strike brought Arokodare’s impressive tally to 12 goals and four assists across 16 appearances in all competitions this season, establishing him as one of the most effective focal points in European competition so far.
Addressing the touchline exchange and the overall victory, the forward noted:
“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.”
“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.”
