A well-known saying in psychology, which perfectly illustrates how difficult it is to not think about something as soon as it’s mentioned, or even consciously avoided.
Francesco Farioli, the Ajax coach, has had an incredibly successful season with Ajax. From a deficit to PSV, his team fought their way back to the top of the table. And he did so with a squad that, on paper, certainly didn’t boast the strongest players. Not a star-studded squad, but a team that relied on team spirit, structure, and intensity. Francesco Farioli and his team, precisely because the Italian was able to keep the pressure of the championship at bay, continued to excel for a long time. After the 2-0 victory over PSV on March 30th, Ajax held a 9-point lead. Even after this match, the Italian manager refuses to talk about the championship:
“We have 67 points and need to move forward. We still have 21 points to grab. If you win, you have three more points. Our points tally is very good. We beat Feyenoord and PSV twice. That’s a huge success for this group of players.”
Until then, this approach had worked. Ajax played without the burden of legacy expectations. But after that moment, consciously or unconsciously, you can no longer deny that Ajax is playing for the league title. In four matches, in which ten crucial points were dropped, avoiding the topic of the championship suddenly seemed to take its toll.
Rafael van der Vaart put it aptly on the NOS after the 2-2 draw against FC Groningen last Wednesday:
“If you do say it, everyone will be on the same page. That’s the goal. This time, the players weren’t allowed to say it, so they started playing differently. They lied to themselves, saying they’d be happy with second place. There was unrest in the team, without them even realizing it.”
Agreeing with Rafael van der Vaart
I never thought I’d agree with Rafael van der Vaart on a psychological level, but that’s precisely the problem. By never mentioning what everyone secretly sensed was coming – “we can become champions” – a psychological split was created. Players weren’t allowed to say the biggest goal, even though it was subconsciously on their minds. The tension nestled precisely in the unspoken.
And tension is there, of course. Always when something matters. But whoever denies that tension will get it back in their face twice as hard, like a boomerang. It’s better to be honest about what’s at stake. Acknowledge that the pressure is there, that the national title is beckoning. And then work together to find an active strategy to deal with it. Tension isn’t a problem; it’s part of life. But you have to learn to manage it, not pretend it’s not there.
Understandable Intention
Farioli’s intention was understandable. To reduce the pressure, to stay focused on the process. But like the pink elephant, suppressing a thought can actually amplify it. By avoiding the championship in words, it grew in meaning. Ultimately, Ajax dropped 10 points in four matches, only to miss out on the championship by just one point.
If you yourself struggle with tension or dealing with pressure in sports: send me a message.