How Ajax Under Erik Ten Hag Are The Champions League’s Surprise Package | Tactics Explained
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- čas přidán 10. 04. 2019
- How Erik ten Hag has turned Ajax into the Champions League’s surprise package this season. Explaining Ajax’s tactics, formation, starting XI and key players - Dusan Tadic, Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Daley Blind.
Ajax appointed Erik ten Hag on the 21st December 2017 following the sacking of Marcel Keizer. Previously, ten Hag had managerial spells at Go Ahead Eagles, Bayern Munich’s second team and then the most impressive spell of his career at FC Utrecht. Where he guided them to 4th position in the Eredivisie and thus the Europa League. At Utrecht, ten Hag mainly employed a 4-4-2 diamond that dropped into a narrow 4-3-3 in defence to with the false nine to drop into midfield to apply pressure and dictate the counter attack. We can see characteristics of ten Hag’s Utrecht in Amsterdam.
Ajax set up in a 4-2-1-3 under ten Hag and they play a high pressing vertical possession based game. In possession, Ajax are a fascinating team to watch. The trend with over-performing sides in European football is to play a vertical tiki-taka system. Examples would be Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim, Sarri’s Napoli, Bielsa’s Leeds United and Pochettino’s Spurs.
In a standard possession phase Ajax use diamonds. They set up in a 3-3-1-3 allowing the creation of three diamonds. A diamond is the best shape for possession football because it gives a player three passing options thus better ball rotation. The diamond was championed by Ajax Legend Johan Cruyff in his tactics. His 1990s Barcelona team played in a 4-3-3 that became a 3-4-3 with a diamond as his left back inverted. Cruyff’s tactics saw him become the most successful Barcelona manager in history until Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi came along. As Barca manager Cruyff won 11 trophies, including 4 La Ligas, 1 Copa del Rey and the last ever European Cup in 1992.
Ajax look to build up with 3-1 shape at the back, but this has many variations. It can be a combination of either wingbacks or defensive midfielders with the two Ajax’s centre backs. Along with a fine sweeper keeper in André Onana, Ajax can dominate the ball at the base. That base usually contains Matthijs de Ligt, Daley Blind, Lasse Schone and Frenkie De Jong. Two ball playing centre backs, a deep-lying playmaker and Frenkie De Jong, a modern day libero. A player capable of stepping out of the back and waltzing around opponents to dictate the attack as he showed against Ballon D’Or winning midfielder, Luka Modric.
In attack, Ajax play a vertical tik-taka style in a 3-3-1-3. Ten Haag uses a combination of a false nine, inside forwards and the movement of box-to-box midfielder Donny van der Beek to open up his opponents. There is a lot of rotation of positions in attack with the front four players regularly switching positions. Tadic and Ziyech are the creators in the side, David Neres the dribbler and van der Beek’s movement from midfield adds a real unpredictability to Ajax’s attack.
Can Ajax win their 5th European Cup?
#Ajax #ChampionsLeague - Sport
![[Vowel]물고기는 물에서 살아야 해🐟🤣Fish have to live in the water #funny](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3G9MH063Cx4/mqdefault.jpg)
You should do videos on how you would set up certain teams if you was the manager.
Ooooooo
Realy good idea!!!
@@StatmanDave Which manager sets up his teams nearest to the way you would have in another life?
@@StatmanDave De Ligt first name is pronounced Mathice not matthaus if youre interested
Or play football manager for us on Twitch
I watched 45 mins of Man U vs Barca then I went on to watch the 2nd half of Ajax vs Juventus and was already suprised after 30 seconds (Ajax scored).
Guess you're even more surprised now
Ajax are an incredibly underrated team!
Mujeeb Ahmed Hahaha what do you think after yesterday about them?
I regularly watch ajax play in the JC Arena and i have to say, your analysis is very accurate. Great video lad and keep it up👏🏻
Really like the in-depth look at Ajax' tactics here, even in the Netherlands Ten Hag is underappreciated as a manager.
One thing though... Dave! You keep saying ''Wilhelm Deux'' when talking about Willem II. We're not talking about some strange German-French fusion club here, Willem is simply pronounced like ''Willem'', and II is pronounced like ''Twee'' (Twey) in Dutch, ''Deux'' is French.
Yeah thats completely true. People are saying that it isnt impressive because he has a great team, but winning against real was not because our individual players were better
How do they even come up with Wilhelm Deux? It's mind boggling...
@@timworm6 haha
tim wormgoor whaahha
tim wormgoor He’s English, butchering foreign names is a national sport
Great breakdown on the current Ajax team and Ten Hag's "signature". My gut tells me that they will beat Juve in Turin, then defeat a PL team in the semis to face Barca in the final. Messi-De Jong clash before becoming team mates next season. Ajax is currently leading the Eredivisie on goal difference, and will not give that up. Champions this year and deservedly so!
I dont think Ajax can beat Liverpool (liverpool can play a counter attacking football that will stiffle them and hit em on the break) barcelona are not good at all!! Liverpool and Ajax can beat barca comfortably
First part: done! Next up: Tottenham or Man city. If Liverpool takes Porto, as expected, they will face Barca first. If...and that's a big IF Liverpool manages to reach the final and ends up facing Ajax, anything can happen. After yesterday's dismantling of Juve, do you still believe Ajax can't beat Liverpool?
It is not Ten Hag , it is the Cruijff revolution, this is result of a 8 year project , and many people are working on this
Agreed which started with De Boer as Youth manager and than later became First team manager.
Hes been a massive factor in it though. In terms of set up and the posession based style his influence is from pep. But ten hag is better tactically
Agreed, The club sets up the project. Forms a base. Puts all the puppets in place. But, The right man on the right spot, the man that gives a finishing tough is the manager. That is what Ten Hag is! A modern day manager that understands football. @ Ajax everyone said he was strange, doubts about beeing Ajax material. It is in fact he who takes the filosophy to a new level . And he has great players. It all comes together. I think they can go far.
I remember Sparta Prague seriously considered Ten Hag when he was in Bayern reserve. One of our own "tactical geniuses" Jaroslav Hřebík who was successful in Champions League with Sparta in the past but is unpopular among some fans for his disputes with key players unwilling to fulfill the tactics recognised the genius of Ten Hag but the club board in the end choose other options and Sparta is still struggling after many years and many wrong choices for the managerial and staff spots.
So I wouldn't take credit from Ten Hag, he is very important for this Ajax project and is good on his own as well as he demonstrated in other clubs that overachieved under him.
not really a revolution.cruiff based his system on gustav sebes ,the hungarian manager of the 50's
Personally I feel like some of the credit for the style of play should go to Peter Bosz, because under him Ajax started the high pressing style that they've now maintained with Ten Hag. Obviously a lot of the players are different but I still feel that the framework for Ajax's off-the-ball play was implemented under Bosz.
AaronAaron This!!! When they appointed ten Hag I just felt they were contracting Bosz 2.0, because both men are quite similar in terms of their vision on football. Besides, they couldn’t re-appoint Bosz because of all the politics going on at the club. So I feel like Ten Hag is just the next best thing
An amazing video! Massive City fan, however I must say your channel is great. Top man Dave, keep up the fantastic work!!! 🙂👌
That's called a perfect presentation 👍
Thank youuuuuu mann great job....i always wanted to know more about Ajax this season
You deserve way more recognition, your content is awesome!
Real good explanation of tactics man... well done...
Those bloopers gave me a nice laugh. Great vid!
Its ajax that began the tik taka in the 70s not barca or others this systeem was always ajax systeem high pressor en high bal speed and attack
@@faridelboujoufi2349 yo man alles goed
Rignald Kock niet Ajax systeem maar Johan Cruyff systeem
more or less..the hungarian team did it first in the 50's
No shit sherlock
@@michaelscofield3525 ok then
Excellent analysis, congratulations!
Great content nice analysis .. subbed
💪💪💪
We're back in Europe, and this time we stay. A lot of our players will leave after this season, but we will receive a lot of money, which will be invested in a good way for sure, like always. Good to see international attention for us! ❌❌❌
Is ten hag still your manager?
@@babatunde7576 Yes, he still is.
He’s coming to Barcelona next year
@@L16m it’s a ship that has already sunk 😂 nobody wants to go to Barça except of course now Xavi.
@@pinzinkinzin4066 Xavi is better than him
Came to watch this again after Ajax beat Juventus..who else ??
You're well informed.. Really liked your commentary.. I subbed.. 😁
Excellent, Guy! A strong embrace from Rio de Janeiro!
You earned yourself a new subscriber . Amazing
Good analysis. Cheers from Ajax fan.
Great analysis!
Great video Dave.
Daley blind was such a superb signing! Him and de ligt with onana in goal is superb core they have in defense
espben360 no blind is to slow de ligt is a beast
@@nopz80 blind might be slow, but thats natural, because of his age, and he has never been fast anyways. He is smart, and fantastic on the ball
Looks like you have prepared alot for this : a fluent and articulate speech
Class video
Nothing to do with Ten Hag. Ajax had played like this for 3 years. They got to the Final of the Europa League without Ten Hag and with very entertaining football. It started with transfer of Ziyech. He has been the creative heart of this side since. Also de Ligt and Onana have been the backbone of this Ajax since. Unfortunally last year tragedy struck with Nouri last year just before they had to start the qualification. It had a profound impact on the hole theam that season. But since then the transfers of Tagliafico, Frenkie, Neres, Tadic and Blind have made them again a beautiful team to watch.
Bosz played like this as well, but with slightly diffent tactics. Ten hag refined it. Dont give all the credits to the players
@@walterclements7968 They where more exciting to watch under Bosz to be honest. They attacked a lot more. Probably because Ziyech played at midfield back then and they had more fast attacking players that went deep. Bosz was more attack minded, Ten Hag is the more conservative coach.
@@chrishanssen6738 I think we had some spectacular games with Bosz, but with Ten Hag the European games are still very good, and better balanced against top sides like Juve, Bayern and Real. If I look back at the games against Schalke and Lyon under Bosz we could have easily been knocked out in the quarter/semi finals, and we didn't find a way to really create something against Man U in the final.
What a BS!. Bosz got outplayed by Mourinho...TH is on a whole different level!
@@chrishanssen6738 But the defense was more weak that time. the current team is more balanced than two years ago.
Subscribed great video my friend
Great video :-) AJAX can win this CL !!! Amsterdam has worked hard for this team to get this far and I am fully confident they will continue to bring the shine back into High League football. Wonderful, so proud already!!
Impressive analysis!
U need to do a video on Van De Beek would love him at United Ziyech too 🔥
Really like both of them proper 🔥🔥🔥
Van De Beek for me is one of the most underrated players in Europe. Serious talent
I like donny van de beek he’s quality I feel we should sign him up aswell as a defensive midfielder
Donny's THE new raumdeuter
United wants every player.
As an Ajacied I´m already happy how Ajax is performing in the Champions League, but of course I hope like as in the past we will be able to surprise everybody and win the cup. Especially since there are generations of Ajacieden who didn´t experienced 1995 (I feel blessed I did), and it would be an amazing tribute to Cruijff and Nouri.
Great video!
Nice video!
Greetings from Amsterdam! 🍻
Most perfect explanation ever.
Great video mate! Yes Ajax are reaching the 1/4 finals and winning the national cup en be champions of the dutch competition.
Very good analise 👍🏻
Great video man! Explained it well, and also nice pronunciation. Keep up the good work!
These videos make me feel happy cos it shows that ten hag is a great manager and he just doesn’t have the players to make this at man u
Great video! They will win
Cool video, I've never heard it called "Wilhelm Deux" but that sounds great :D
So , they did it in Madrid , they did it in Turin , what do you think, will this be something like what Croatia did in world cup
A request please if possible .. benfica tactic and more of 442 tactics thanks in advance
After Barcelona Ajax is my second favourite team. I really want them to qualify to knout Juventus out their last performance was great over Juve.
Your wish became true
Good channel mate and a good video talking about all the different the formations and stuff but to be honest with you, this Ajax team is just pure talent. De Jong manipulates everything and everyone else is so calm under pressure, nothing to do with tactics IMO. It's more of an identity.
AJAX are my team our football is fluid and beautiful to watch. I think we can beat Juventus and go through to the semi finals. We have probably produced the best players. I like how we do out job as well. Dave you think AJAX can get to the finals if we get a lucky or scrape a win against Juve? ❌❌❌
As a neutral Ajax are the most entertaining to watch this year in UCL, love to see a Dutch team rising to the top of European football once again. I'm rooting for Ajax but I wonder will the van de Beek miss prove costly? From LFC fan.
@@n__rtu8324 van de beek is not out for Juve. Tagliafico is tho, and that's going to be a big miss.
apologies mate, what I meant is van de Beek missed a great chance on his left foot in the 1st half to put Ajax 1-0 up, I wonder if it will be the difference at the end of the tie. Juve were bloody average/boring, Ajax deserve to goto the Semis!! @@larsdikwijls5388
@@n__rtu8324 Thought you meant a miss through suspension. Sorry!
Hihi
Good stuff
Never had a foreigner nail it like this. You have an eye for it mate. Please don't tell, folks. We deserve that cup
U R The Best Explainer n Analyiser Love From India Keep up your Good Work🇮🇳😍🔥
jesus stop saying Wilhem Deux, we dont speak french in the Netherlands, it's just Willem 2, and if you want to pronounce it in the dutch way say "Willem tway".
😂 Tway🤣
Stop nagging😅
lolo
Hahah makes amazing analyses. Complains about the most unimportant thing of this vid.
@@job3950 Exactly, so pathetic.. 😅
See we’re not answering the question, “how did Utd lose last night?” (Clue: Shots on target = 0)
The tie aint over ;)
@@StatmanDave They should have won I feel.
@NG Newaj His crossing was awful!
When ur opponent have Gerard Pique 🙌🏿
@@StatmanDave What happened to Messi last night?
Two words. Collective Flair
👌👌👌👌
@@StatmanDave 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Very interesting analysis. We are hoping for Tottenham in the semi final because of the ex-Ajax players in that team. But Ajax - ManCity would also be great, of course. One way or the other, in the semi finals of the CL, all four teams can win the CL in the end. Would be great to see a final Ajax - Barca, as Barcelona are Ajax' brother and Frenkie (and perhaps also Matthijs) will be playing in Catalonia next season. For us in Amsterdam, this CL season is already beyond any expectation! To Cristiano: tough luck, mate!
Adopting😂😂😂 lol created by cruyff and michels
not really.they got the fame,but its based on system of the hungarian national team of the 50's
Tzu Babu Rinus and Johan took the style into practice and perfection and won everything in the way, what did the Hungarians did with it? I think a world cup final only, right? and then what?
@@edgarenriqueespana8013 cmon man...u asking like if i wrote the enciclopedia...im just saying what happened...weather they won anything or not
Big respect for Ajax, greet's from Croatia.....
They play the best football this season
2 years later, Donny’s career being wasted under Ole.
While ten Hag is still at Ajax… seems like a good Ole replacement!
Ajax is a sort of a family culture at the moment, players treat each other as their own family which it makes it easier to play as a team. That's the main reason many people say that this is probably 'the Golden generation' and maybe they will be at the end of this season.
This side is quality, just a shame this side will be decimated next season with De Jong already gone. De Ligt will probably go as well as Onana Tagliafico.
Onana will stay, he signed a new contract
@@walterclements7968 Tadic also said he'll stay. And we have a very talented couple of players comming up. Gravenberch, Noah Lang etc.
@@chrishanssen6738 I think Gravenberch will be a great player when he comes up to the first team regularly... also i was surprised that ekkelenkamp was selected over lang because in my opinion lang is ready to compete at the highest level on a weekly basis...off the money we made from de jong we should be able to keep all the other players and have another decent run in the cl next season
@@chrishanssen6738 I'm just waiting for brobbey to be in the selection
I bet Ajax will win the Champions League and the Eredivisie!!! I just love how they play, its so good to see them play...
Nice Videooooooo
lol they wont win the champions league, as an Ajax supporter, Im pretty sure Juventus will win. And if they somehow make a miracle happen and win against Juventus, they will have to play against other billions dollar clubs. No chance to win the CL.
@@nxtlvlnlkr5312 Football is not just money man trust me if they play like they did again they can go to the final, juventus is not that good they have good players but in my opinion they play bad... Lets gooo Ajaaax
Its Benfica in the UEL and Ajax in the UCL!
Ajax wont get through Juventus but if it does they still have to face good teams so i dont think they win
Haasdh Ikbennietik321
Natuurlijk treffen we dan een top team als we doorgaan, je zit dan bij de top 4 van Europa. Lijkt me logisch. Stel we treffen Tottenham, daar hoeven we niet bang voor te zijn als je Real en Juventus al hebt uitgeschakeld..
@@nxtlvlnlkr5312 You give me that one now? xD from Portugal with love
I'm a Barcelona fan but what helped make me become a Barca fan is all thanks to Ajax. Great football tradition. Ajax the pioneers of total football and the legend Johan Cruyff. I really hope they KO Juventus. If only they were more clinical in the first leg and someone tracked the run of Ronald for his goal. I really hope they can do it. Ajax are our friends. A dream finale of Ajax v Barcelona please !
Ajax have been playing like this since the times of Michels and stegan kovax. This isn't knew. However, their current structure under ten hag looks less like Cruyff and more like bielsa. Any one remember his 3-3-1-3 at Bilbao, Marseille or now at Leeds??
Make a video on bielsas leeds please
Ziyech would be great signing for United as United are in need of a playmaker and he is very creative and has a good workrate and plays attacking midfielder but also play right wing and centre midfielder. He could fit in a 433 on the right wing or cm or in a 4222 as the right attacking midfielder and would also be an upgrade on lingard and Mata
Yep
They should really go for de Ligt out of any ajax players, he's 19 and already top 10 defender worldwide. He's got 15 years of wich he'll probably be 10 years being the best defender in the world.
@@Minifliek yh I'd rather we get de ligt over koulibaly
@@Minifliek agreed!
Boogyboy 666 de light is already Barcelona’s, it is just not official. At least not yet!
Ajax brings the lost feature of football. I really love to watch them. I wish them the best.
Your comment about Modric was quite telling. I quite like Ajax but as a development team, to out play the 'World Footballer of the Year' says a few things about that decision.
Dont forget; Ajax had to play three qualification rounds this season. From the first match in July the Johan Cruijff Arena has been sold out and we have seen terrific performances against Sturm Graz, Standard Liege and Dinamo Kiev. We continued our form in the group stage by trashing AEK Athens, coming on top against Benfica and two brilliant matches against Bayern München. The Real Madrid tie was Legendary and I am proud of the performance against Juventus. We have seen some wonderfull football from Amsterdam and its remarkable because this club has risen to the top op world football, redefining it almost, on several occassions throughout history. And this years team will be deceminated like so many great Ajax teams in the past 30 years because of the lack of competative challenges in the Netherlands. But Ajax will train and groom new talents and will come back again and again and again. After reaching the Euro League final two years ago they lost Sanchez, Klaassen, Traore, Kluivert and Younes only to rise up this season in the Champions League. Wij zijn Ajax, Wij zijn de Beste
I love what Ajax are doing. I remember watching them in 1995 or was it 96 CL final and I was gutted Ajax lost.. I remember seeing players like the de boer brothers, Kluviert and Litmanen. And van der sar in goal back then? They were such a great team. And being a Barcelona fan I have great respect for Ajax and what Michels taught Cryuff and then Cruyff brought it over to Barcleona. Cryuff was a great great player but also a very clever manager. My dad told me how he watched Ajax win 3 CLs in a row in the 70s. That was so good to hear before all the money coming in makes it harder for a team like Ajax to win it. I love their famous red and white home kit, the club name and their academy. Win all your league games now and Ajax will win the league :) got a superior goal difference to PSV who aren't half as good in Europe and don't have half the famous tradition as Ajax. Who really just like AC Milan, Barcleona, Man U, Madrid, Juventus.... Ajax are one of the elite names in history. So good to have them back and competing! I really hope you can KO Juve and it's s dream final of Ajax v Barcelona
Adopted that style at Ajax?! Ajax invented this play style!
Cool video, love how ajax is finally getting some international recognition again after a very mediocre decade (and a half?) in Europe
My club, My proud!
We are not here for the praises, we are here for the prices! We are going for our 5th!
He i am dutch and love ajax since i can speak (dont thinks that was good english) but erik cant do so much wrong cause his players have much quality, and ziyech and other players have been saying to erik that he had to change his way of doing cause it was really bad.
Ajax best coaches in the past 5 years were: frank de boer and peter bosz
Peter changed ajax really well, he let de ligt and de jong and also kluivert play much and made them good
I hope this was a bit good english cause i am not good in it at all❤️❤️
You're talking as if Ten Hag has like no role in this Ajax success. Do you really think teams like Barca, Man City or Liverpool would be anywhere close to their level without a decent trainer? I'm sick and tired of hearing fake Ajax fans complaining that 'It's just the players that do all the work' but as soon as they F up like against Heracles and AZ, THEN it's the fault of Ten Hag.
Any logical thinking footballfan knows every team needs a good trainer to play to their fullest abilities. Ten Hag had been able to come up with an attractive, attacking and also effective way of playing that fits the team as a glove. He deserves as much credit as all the players do. All of them have been phenomenal this season
i hope they understand the stakes here and will win. I can truly say that they actually play football as it should be played. You cannot compare them with any other team right now.
@StatmanDave How would you attack Ajax's high pressure style of play?
We’re still in for the treble
Please make a video on Bielsa ball :)
Nice
Statman Dave my favorite CZcamsr
Can you make a video about Arsenal , where you give ideas for a replacement for Aron Ramsay,
Totaalvoetbal / Total Football is the name of the game (not tiki taka).
@Statman Dave, read this please because down below you will find my question. Before anyone starts to recommend Erik ten Hag as a manager from your favourite club, I want to emphasize that for playing this way, you need certain players. All players need some specific skills, specific attributes. The most familiar skill of needs are technical, positional play and tactical knowledge. If players don't have these attributes, you will see another Erik ten Hag. This means that when you ask ten Hag to join, just as an example, Manchester United you will probably not see this style, but more the style he has used at FC Utrecht. Erik ten Hag is a tactical manager, who will favor an attractive, offensive way of play. However he is not afraid to change and adapt to opponents when needed. Now the question which you all have been waiting for, I guess; how would ten Hag his line up look like when he would have been the manager of Manchester United? Is the way of play possible with the current squad with some youth prospects added? Or don't you think that that is possible? Hoping to see some interesting stuff regarding to these questions in the future. Thank you for your reply in advance.
Enjoy this Ajax as long as you can, after this season nothing will be left of this team.
A Team is better than 1 star player.
"Let's get this party started"
Oi oi
I really like ajax....a breath of fresh air😍
Tamil 💪
How many man utd fans whatching this video. GGMU
If Ajax manage to knock out Juventus I'm positive they will win the CL.
Jij ziet Ajax ff 123 Liverpool, Man City of Barcelona uitschakelen? Die spelen het Ajax spelletje misschien net een level hoger....
@@hackitjacki Niet zomaar, maar goed wie had verwacht dat we 2 keer gelijk zoude spelen tegen bayern. Real zouden uitschakelen en gelijk zouden spelen tegen juventus. Veel van die potjes waren we zelfs de betere nog ook. Zie het niet 123 gebeuren maar voor mijn gevoel is er iig een hele hoop mogelijk
Eerst ff de spurs loten, dan staan we al met 1 been in de finale
They just did x
They did with style :)
Timo Werner at it again :D
I Love the tikkie takie style, but also scare me at the same time.
Well time to try this on football manager
Let me know when you succeeded in doing that and show me how... Deal? 😉
Haha will be a tough task :P
Ajax can win this champions league 2018_19 season trust me
They can, but to win a cup you also need a bit of luck. So question is if they will win it.
My feeling is that the 1-1 is a better result for Ajax than it is for Juventus. Ajax will play the same with little pressure and if they make 0-1 Juventus will freeze up as they know a second goal is a killer blow. If 1-0 little changes for Ajax, still make 1 goal for extra time.
RoadRage Agree. Juve doesn’t need to score, like they did to against Atletico. A advantage for Ajax, because they we all know what happened in Santiago Bernabeu a few weeks ago.
bullshit
I am always thinking (whishing) that this Ajax can winn the CL this year. In 1995 there was the same vibe...! Nooooo, we can not win, thats not possibable.
In a world of fair football competition (that is like the 1970s, 80s and 90s) where football clubs were rewarded for having the right policies rather than having the most TV money/sponsorship deals, Ajax would be Champions League challengers every year - probably more so than even Real Madrid. UEFA and the EU decided the already powerful Big 4 Leagues needed a greater boost, that is why Ajax have been absent from the European scene over the last 2 decades.
It is good to see them being “rehabilitated” and being rediscovered by a new generation of followers, although that also tells you just how much younger fans have bought into UEFA’s rewriting of football’s history… whereby a four-time European Cup winner is now seen as a smaller club than Manchester City or PSG.
Also I doubt this will last, as we’ve seen in 1995-97 and 2003-04 when Ajax lost the core of the very strong squads they had built up. Just enjoying the moment while I can.
It is a shame that Peter Bosz had to go without completing his mission, hopefully ten Hag can pull it off now. Dutch coaches have been important contributors to the evolution of football and its tactics, along with (mostly) the Italians and Germans (Spaniards more recently but they still rely a lot on foreign coaches like Zidane, Simeone and Ancelotti to win European titles).
I believed in them since the group stage. And then having opponents like Solari and Allegri helped Ten Hag a bit because obviously both do not actually know what they are doing. As a Juventus fan I was very pissed when we drawed Ajax.
Modern football needs more managers like Ten Hag Klopp guardiola Di Franseco and less managers like Mourinho and Simeone and Allegri.
Before match 1 in Amsterdam Allegri thought he only had to stop Frenkie de Jong in order to dismantle Ajax. That really told me he didn’t understand what he was up against and I expected Ajax to beat them.
He thought in terms of individuals. Just like they thought a 100 million Ronaldo does the deal. But soccer is a team play and danger comes in many forms: *the false 9 Tadic role to keep the ball flowing up front, *the support role of van de beek, *the touch of Samba by Neres (though he’s not a typical Brazilian and tactically more skilled) *the deep curvy passes and longshots by Ziyech *and in general the quick triangle combinations with pivotal role of Frenkie but also other midfielders.
If you pick one of the Ajax team to make his life miserable, the others become more dangerous and make you more miserable. Allegri was cought by surprise and so was Solari. They were unprepped really.
I always find it hard to play against teams who may have some average players but have no weak spots and are all quite evenly skilled.
Ajax strength is also their lack of weaknesses, especially with Tagliafico returning leftback after second yellow, defense is solid and he’s also going deep. Blind lacked some pace as wingback but plays a perfect composed centrepack together with de Ligt. No weak spots, maybe a tad on the rightback, but gets support there even by Zyich joining defense every now and then.
And don’t forget Onana. Good goalkeepers can win tournaments.
On energy: Cruyff once said: “no one is quicker than the ball”. Meaning the ball has to do the work. I think Ajax energy consumption is more on chasing when not having the ball. Even if they have 60% posession, over 50% of energy is spent on non-posession. That works as a leverage. Juve’s attacking play in first half was too energy consuming.
We introduced "Total Football" to the world in the '70. Now we introduce you all to "Total Football 2.0".
I lost my freaking mind tonight, 1-2 against Juventus. These might be the last months of my life as I don't know what'll happen to me if we actually take the cup home.
SO PROUD!!!
I live in the village where Erik ten hag grew up and I play at the same football club as he did. Something to be proud of
Barca could also do this with 4 attacker Suarez, Messi, Dembele, Coutinho and Malcom as replacement
Hope the final gonna be Ajax vs Barca 😍
Both teams playing with tactics Cruyff teached them!
Wanna see them play the Final.
Who's gonna win than? 🙄
Ajax is my favourite in Holland, and Barca in Spain! 🤔
But it's time that Ajax win the CL this year.......
All because I'm Dutch!
And I think Cruyff would have chose Ajax as well....... FirstLove ❤