Witschge lashes out at Adriaanse in Sportweek magazine

22 May: Less than one week before Ajax' decisive last game of the season against AZ, midfielder Richard Witschge has furiously lashed out at Co Adriaanse in Dutch magazine Sportweek. Witschge uttered his criticism after the Ajax head coach had left him out of the squad for FC Twente vs Ajax.

"Adriaanse can go f**k himself, as far as I'm concerned," Witschge said. "He's had his day with me. I still have two years in my contract, but it doesn't make sense to stay here. If Adriaanse is staying, I want to go. I don't feel like ever saying one word to that guy anymore."

According to Witschge, Adriaanse did not explain why he'd left Witschge out of the team: "I don't have a clue. In my opinion, I've been doing okay lately. I was substituted at half time against Vitesse and he didn't tell me the reason. On Saturday, he told me I was not with the squad. I didn't ask any questions, turned around and walked away."

Adriaanse's version of the story is completely different. After the FC Twente game, the coach stressed that he had no conflict whatsoever with Witschge. "Not a bit of it. I explained to Richard why he was not with the team. This was because I was not going to put him in the starting line-up, and I didn't really feel like placing him on the bench, either. Richard is not the substitute kind of guy."

The public clash between Adriaanse and the 31 year-old midfielder almost certainly means the end of Witschge's career at Ajax. After the Sportweek interview, it seems very unlikely that Witschge will play in Sunday's game against AZ, in which Ajax will have to grab at least one point to qualify for the UEFA Cup. If both Roda and Vitesse lose, a point will be enough to jump to third and qualify for the Champions League preliminary rounds.

If Roda grabs one point and Vitesse either draw or win, Ajax will have to beat AZ in order to jump to third. If Roda wins its game at RKC, Ajax can't do any better than finishing 4th or 5th, and qualify for the UEFA Cup. (MP)

Source: Sportweek magazine