Exit interview Henk ten Cate

“First they collect money for me and then when that’s all done, they tell the media I am a liar.” reacted Henk ten Cate. ” The tv took my quotes of out context and manipulated information. I never said I wasn’t talking to Chelsea. I only denied having signed a contract. And in all honesty, I still haven’t.”

But Ajax let you go. The 6th coach in 9 years. And apart from winning the national cup, there was not a lot of success.

“The expectations at Ajax are exceptional. They still think it’s 1995, when they won the CL. But times have changed. The goals haven’t. And that is not realistic. Ajax is not European top. Period. But we did make a good step forward. We score goals, we play attractive football, young talent gets a chance. But it’s hard to attract top players to Amsterdam. Salaries aren’t as high as in other countries and the Eredivisie level isn’t on par with England, France or Spain. Those are the facts. And the youth development of Ajax isn’t the best in the country anymore. Feyenoord, PSV, FC Groningen…they all do very well. The generation Vaart, Sneijder, Stekelenburg, De Jong is pretty good but from the next one is was Babel and Emanuelson. And hopefully Maduro.”

Ajax was hard to beat with Davids. He broke his leg because he didn’t wear protection. That was an expensive injury for Ajax.

“Very. But that’s not something I am responsible for. Players are obliged to wear them and a serious and committed and experienced player like Davids should have known better. It’s almost a farce. The assistant referee was also asleep, I guess.”

If you would have noticed, would you have said something?

“Of course! I would have said: hey buddy, didn’t you forget something? But after he fell away, I pleaded for another experienced midfielder but there weren’t any alternatives. The board said: just work with Schilder. I should have been more pushy in that discussion. And then Sneijder was sold and Gabri got injured. My whole midfield was gone.”

But, there was Kenneth Perez. Who is not a bad player, as we see now at PSV.

,,Perez is a great player. I never said he wasn’t, but he demanded a starting spot. That doesn’t work in top sport. You earn the spot, you don’t demand it.”

In what way were his comments to the coloured referee last season an issue for you, being a coloured person yourself.

“Not at all. Come on. Dark players get this all their life. Do you really think that upsets me. I even helped Perez write his apology letter and all… Perez played 45 games in Ajax 1 last season. He shouldn’t be whining.”

Lindenbergh had to go because he was best buddies with Perez?

“I am not going to spend any words on that little wanker. Every word is one too many.”

Players like Stekelenburg and Huntelaar had trouble getting used to your way of motivating.

“Huntelaar has enormous qualities in the boc. But, you’re not always in the box. I invested time in him, but he was too hardheaded at first, probably helped by his entourage. Until he saw how my approach made Babel and Sneijder better players. Then he changed. He is doing great now and he will become a huge striker. Maarten Stekelenburg is introverted. I wanted him to be more outspoken. So I hired Carlo L’Ami, a very extraverted keeper trainer. I think that works now.”

At Chelsea, you’ll be assistant again. Is that a better job than the end-responsible coach for you?

“My reputation is being made on the basis of two failed European matches. I won’t go into that. I’ve proven I can be a good head coach. The only drawback is to have to talk to people like you. The press. I will be co-responsible for the line-up at Chelsea, like my assistants at Ajax were too. The good thing is, I don’t have to justify that to the press anymore.”