Ajax lost the Eredivisie title in the latter stages of the competition, squandering a 9-point lead with five games to go. Sunday, after Ajax's 2-0 win over FC Twente in the final game of the season, Farioli was visibly emotional and shed some tears as the Ajax fans chanted and supported the team.
After the match and Farioli's post-match interview, ESPN reported that Farioli and Ajax would be on the verge of a stunning breakup as tension between Farioli and the club's executive board, which consists of technical director Alex Kroes, general manager Menno Geelen, and director of football Marijn Beuker, is rising.
Farioli answered avoidingly when asked about his future at Ajax, saying "Ajax's future is most important" and staying uncommittal to the club itself. "I like to turn a page and look to the future, but after this emotional day with all kinds of feelings, I will not start thinking about my future again until tomorrow morning. About the future of Ajax, I have no doubt."
Shocking breakup
ESPN reported that Farioli and Alex Kroes cannot see eye-to-eye on several crucial issues, including transfer business, tactics, the extension of several contracts, and club finances.
"On almost every technical aspect, the Ajax coach and the management disagree," says ESPN. "Kroes asks Farioli to play more attacking football next season, but the coach thinks this is a very unrealistic request. Farioli has been told that only a portion of incoming transfer fees and Champions League proceeds can be reinvested this summer.
"With limited funds and a scouting department ignoring Farioli's requests, the coach fears a lower-quality selection next year than he has had to work with at Ajax this season. Recently, several full-backs, a controlling midfielder, and a striker Farioli brought to the scouting department have again been labelled unsuitable."
Farioli would also like Ajax to extend the contracts of vice-captain Davy Klaassen and goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, who've played a combined 78 Ajax games this season. So far, the board has refused to honour this wish but has made it clear they'd like to bring back club icon Dusan Tadic—a player Farioli reportedly would not want in his squad.
"Farioli respects the former Ajax player's beloved status in Amsterdam, but indicated to Kroes that he is not open to Tadic's return. Within his style of play, with lots of intensity and running players, Farioli sees no sporting value for Tadic. It bothers the coach that Ajax is still negotiating with Tadic, who himself would like to return."
Furthermore, evaluation sessions of Farioli and the board have not gone perfectly earlier this season, and the base for a good cooperation might've deteriorated for Farioli, according to ESPN. The next evaluation session is planned for next week.