Frank De Boer calls Michel’s speaking manner “embarrassing”

Frank De Boer delivered a sharp criticism of Ajax coach Michel: “It is embarrassing to listen to,” he said. The comment comes in Michel González’s first season in charge of Ajax, as he tries to bring the team closer to the top of the Eredivisie, where it sits fifth. The former Girona coach has both supporters and detractors, and his knowledge of the language has become a point of criticism.

De Boer also questioned the decision to bring on Jofre Torrents in the second half in Split. “You bring on a left-back who has never played before… I don’t want to blame him, because it isn’t only his fault, but to start that nineteen-year-old for the first time in such a hostile atmosphere… Honestly, I would have preferred to see Wijndal,” he said.

Toby Alderweireld also raised questions about how Michel communicates with his team. “I wonder how he communicates with his team. In English or Spanish? Many people don’t understand Spanish; they understand English better, but if you speak like that…” He also does not believe an interpreter would solve the issue: “It doesn’t come across in the same way, and you also have to convey passion…”

Michel had struggled to express himself after the 2-1 defeat to Hajduk Split in the Conference League. At Girona, he had shown an interest in speaking Catalan from the outset and, at least in public, had managed to do so fairly well.