CHUBA AKPOM has opened up about the start of his Ajax career, which he has labelled as a "catastrophe".<\/p>\n
The former Arsenal striker joined the Dutch giants in the summer in a shock \u00a310.5million transfer from Middlesbrough.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
Akpom, 28, has not enjoyed the best start to life at his new club.<\/p>\n
Ajax currently sit 11th in the Eredivisie after losing five of their first ten games of the league season.<\/p>\n
The poor form had seen the side drop all the way to the bottom of the league at one point.<\/p>\n
The club has started to rebuild their season in recent weeks with back-to-back wins.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>DOWN TOWN <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/picture>POWER UP <\/span><\/p>\n
Akpom has played his role in the victories scoring three goals off of the bench.<\/p>\n
After the game against Heereveen, Akpom opened up on his time in Holland so far.<\/p>\n
He admitted to not being settled at the club.<\/p>\n
He told ESPN: "It\u2019s been a catastrophe, personally and for the team.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>SUITE LIFE <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/picture>ON THE LINE <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/picture>BOG STANDARD <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/picture>PREM ACE DEBT BLOW <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS<\/strong><\/p>\n
"I haven\u2019t felt settled for two months, it\u2019s only this week that I\u2019ve felt settled.<\/p>\n
"I\u2019ve been in a hotel by myself, I\u2019ve not been playing and I feel like I\u2019ve been alone here, but this week I feel back to my normal self."<\/p>\n
Akpom's upturn in form has come with the change of manager.<\/p>\n
Maurice Steijn was sacked as manager in October and replaced by John Van \u2018t Schip.<\/p>\n
Akpom has praised his new boss for helping improve his mood by speaking to him about his life and not just football.<\/p>\n
He added: "The manager came and spoke to me straight away, on a human level not a football level.<\/p>\n
"He asked how I am, how my family is.<\/p>\n
"We\u2019re footballers but we\u2019re human beings firstly and I really appreciated that little chat with the manager and the assistant.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
"But, it\u2019s been really tough for me.<\/p>\n
"I try to stay professional and keep working, but a new country, new environment, new team, in a hotel \u2013 it\u2019s really a struggle."<\/p>\n
Expectations were high for Akpom following his switch from Boro as he was coming off the back of an exceptional season in the Championship.<\/p>\n
The strike finished the season as the league's top scorer having netted 28 goals in 38 appearances.<\/p>\n
Akpom graduated from Arsenal's academy and made 12 appearances for their first team before joining Greek side PAOK in 2020.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Money matters <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/picture>KEEPING WARM <\/span><\/p>\n
During his Gunners stint, he had loan spells at Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Hull, Brighton and Sint-Truidense V.V..<\/p>\n
Following two years in Greece, he signed for Middlesbrough in 2020.<\/p>\n
Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"