After the past season, Arne Slot's first in charge, AZ expected a bright future ahead of them. When sitting in second spot only courtesy of a worse goal difference than Ajax (whom they had actually beaten twice) they saw the sudden end of the campaign caused by the Covid outbreak,
Reality was different, though, as they failed to pick up any wins from their first 5 games in the new campaign. Despite dominating each one of them, they would regularly end up squandering all advantages momentarily obtained. The 4-4 away draw to Sparta Rotterdam, obtained despite a 4-goal lead, is a perfect portrait of their suicidal attitude.
Then, Slot tightened the defence and 4 wins followed suit but the rumours that the coach was in talks with Feyenoord for a move to Rotterdam at the end of the season led to his immediate and shocking sacking. Pascal Jansen, Slot’s assistant, was handed the reins of the team and, despite a poor debut, a 1-2 home defeat to Groningen, he managed to lead the ship to safety.
Between weeks 12 and 34, AZ collected 17 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats only. Despite their vehement push, often matched by bright football, they failed to go further than the 3rd spot, 17 points away from Ajax.
20-year-old Boadu (15 goals and 1 assist), captain Koopmeiners (15/5) and Karlsson (11/10) all managed to repeat the good done in the previous campaign while 23-year-old De Wit (4/3) actually ended up losing his starting status in the course of the season.
With 41 goals conceded, AZ held the 6th best defence of the league and it is not surprising, especially considering that left-back Wijndal aside, who played all the games, all the other starters missed chunks of the season because of injuries.
With coach Jansen confirmed for the next season, AZ will go for another campaign among the top teams but a lot will depend on how many of their stars will be quitting over the summer. In fact, Koopmeiners and Boadu might already have their luggage ready.
