‘He is a special player’ – Ajax boss Míchel Sánchez hails Tolu Arokodare after Atalanta winner

Ajax head coach Míchel Sánchez has singled out Tolu Arokodare for praise after the Nigerian striker came off the bench to inspire a 2-0 victory over Atalanta in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday.

Arokodare struck three minutes from time at the Johan Cruyff Arena, rewarding Sánchez’s decision to introduce him as Ajax chased a breakthrough against the Italian visitors.

The 66th-minute substitute brought the game to life in the closing stages, controlling a long delivery from Youri Baas before calmly beating goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi to put the hosts ahead in the 87th minute.

Abdellah Ouazane added a second in stoppage time to seal the victory, handing Ajax their first three points in the Conference League league phase after an opening defeat to Hajduk Split.

Sánchez explains decision to introduce Arokodare

Sánchez revealed that Ajax needed a more imposing presence in the penalty area, prompting him to turn to Arokodare as the game approached its final stages.

The substitution proved decisive, with the Nigerian forward delivering the breakthrough before his fellow substitutes helped the Dutch side finish strongly.

“I brought him on to create more threat in the penalty area. Sometimes you make substitutions and they don’t work out well, but the return of the players who came off the bench brought about the improvement for me,” he said, as quoted by ESPN.

Arokodare provided the attacking presence Sánchez wanted, using his composure to convert Baas’ pass and give Ajax the advantage after a tightly contested encounter.

His finish demonstrated his ability to make an immediate impact, with the striker needing little time to turn his introduction into a decisive contribution.

The goal also vindicated Sánchez’s tactical adjustment, as Ajax found the breakthrough through a player who had started the match among the substitutes.

‘Tolu is a special player’ – Ajax coach

Sánchez was equally complimentary when discussing his relationship with Arokodare, describing the forward as a special player while praising the wider squad for its commitment.

The Ajax manager stressed that his positive working relationship with the Nigerian extended to the rest of the team, whose efforts have helped him manage the demands of the campaign.

“I have a great relationship with all the players. Tolu is a special player, as I have already said, and I have a very good relationship with him. But also with the rest of the team.

“I am lucky to have a team that works very hard day in and day out. Managing these kinds of players is sometimes not easy, but they help enormously. They make my job much easier.”

The comments underline Sánchez’s confidence in Arokodare and his appreciation of the squad’s collective contribution to Ajax’s progress.

For the Nigerian, earning such praise from his coach after delivering a crucial European goal could strengthen his case for a greater role in the team’s upcoming fixtures.

Seven goals and counting for Arokodare

Arokodare’s late strike took his season tally for Ajax to seven goals across all competitions, reinforcing his value as an attacking option.

The forward has now scored three times in the UEFA Conference League and four goals in the Eredivisie, maintaining his contribution across Ajax’s domestic and European campaigns.

His latest goal arrived at an important moment for the Dutch side, who needed a response after losing their opening league-phase match to Hajduk Split.

Beating Atalanta gives Ajax renewed confidence and a platform to build on as they pursue progress in the competition.

Arokodare, meanwhile, will hope to carry his scoring form into the club’s next fixtures as he continues to make his mark under Sánchez.

His ability to influence games after coming off the bench has already proved valuable, and Thursday’s performance offered another example of how his presence can change the course of a contest.