Berghuis Miss Stuns René van der Gijp as Ajax Faces Criticism

René van der Gijp could hardly believe what he had seen. On Vandaag Inside, the former international laid into Steven Berghuis after the Ajax forward squandered a huge chance in the top-of-the-table clash with PSV.

The moment came on Saturday with the score locked at 1-1. Berghuis, on his favoured left foot, in space, close to goal – and he dragged it wide.

"What disappointed me so much. That can happen, I know. Anything can happen. That Berghuis didn't put that ball away. That disappoints me. With such a good strike with his left foot," Van der Gijp said, still baffled by the miss in the 30th minute.

He didn’t let it go.

"I think if he takes 20 penalties, he scores all 20. And this one you put wide, man. Come on, man!" the analyst snapped, his frustration aimed squarely at the Ajax winger’s lack of ruthlessness.

That miss hung over the rest of the night. Ajax never recovered. PSV grew into the game, seized control, and walked out of Amsterdam with a 1-3 win, capped by a superb strike from recent signing Lutsharel Geertruida.

While Van der Gijp focused on Berghuis, Valentijn Driessen turned his fire on the bench. For De Telegraaf’s football editor, Ajax coach Míchel got the big calls badly wrong.

He could not understand why Tolu Arokodare was withdrawn after just an hour, especially with the forward playing, in his eyes, "quite well". The decision not to start Abdellah Ouazane against PSV also left him shaking his head.

"The very best player he has, Ouazane, wasn't in the team. And he forms a very good partnership with that Brandt. And he takes Tolu off, even though he was playing quite well. And then Míchel has a stroke of genius with two strikers who haven't touched a ball all year," Driessen said, pointedly referencing substitutes Kasper Dolberg and Marcos Leonardo.

The selection debate didn’t stop there. Driessen also highlighted the choice at right-back, questioning why Gaaei started in that role against Van Bommel.

"And then Gaaei, who can't defend, plays at right-back against Van Bommel. And then he has another defender on the bench. What are you supposed to do with these kinds of coaches?" he asked, leaving the criticism hanging.

Ajax lost the game. The panel’s verdict suggested something deeper: a team missing chances on the pitch, and, in their eyes, making even bigger ones off it.