Ajax Struggles in Season Opener as Israeli Midfielder Oscar Gloukh Sees Limited Impact

In the Dutch Eredivisie season opener, Ajax secured a 2-0 away victory against Zwolle on Sunday, with Israeli midfielder Oscar Gloukh starting and playing 60 minutes. Gloukh was part of Ajax's midfield trio under coach Mitchell but, like his teammates, struggled to influence the game during a largely uninspiring first hour. Ajax found it difficult to create high-tempo chances in the first half, drawing criticism from Dutch media for their slow and predictable play. Despite this, Gloukh was among the few players who managed to reach scoring opportunities before halftime.

Dutch football magazine Voetbal International rated Gloukh 5.5, one of the lowest among Ajax players, while substitutes Mika Hudjets, Jordy Mokwio, and Julian Brandt each received a 7 for sparking a turnaround. Gloukh was substituted in the 60th minute shortly after Zwolle was reduced to ten men. Ajax then made a triple substitution, with Mokwio scoring the opener in the 76th minute and Brandt sealing the win deep into stoppage time.

The Dutch outlet AD also described Ajax's first half as too predictable and lacking midfield depth. Ajax captain Davy Klaassen admitted post-match that the team "was not as good as it wants to be" and that there were "too few moments of magic" in their play. For Gloukh, the match marked a lukewarm start to the season, as he was involved in some attempts before halftime but failed to leave a significant mark before being replaced prior to the decisive goals.