Brighton and Hove Albion defender Joel Veltman has admitted he is upset watching the current situation at former club Ajax, as he gears up to face them this week.
The defender has been speaking to Ajax Life Magazine, relayed by FC Update, about the situation at his former club and their struggles over the last year.
The Dutch giants currently find themselves in the relegation play-off spot in the Eredivisie after a disastrous start to life under manager Maurice Steijn.
There is also turmoil off the pitch, with director of football Sven Mislintat, who only arrived this year, removed from his position after a poor summer transfer window, and various other high-profile positions also being changed.
The Dutch club are longer what they once were, with many yearning for a return to the old set up that was seemingly lost when the likes of Erik ten Hag and Marc Overmars departed.
“Some things are going on and that hurts me,” he said.
“You want to see Ajax at the top and certainly not in pain. I don’t know all the ins and outs. Every club experience a crisis sometimes and one is worse than the other, but I hope things will get better on the pitch soon.”
Veltman is set to meet his former club this week as Brighton host the Dutch side in their latest Europa League Group B fixture.
The two sides had been the favourites for the group but currently find themselves in third and fourth with Ajax on two points and Brighton on one.
It means this game has taken on added significance, with both in desperate need of three points to get their European campaign started properly.
As a result, Veltman is expecting two entertaining games as he gears up for a double reunion against his former club.
“Ajax wants to play football and have the ball. We perhaps even more so,” he added.
“I expect two nice matches. In the end it will turn out positive for us. Let Ajax finish second in the group behind us. That would be nice.”
