Ajax

Ajax supporters group F-Side has defended one of its members who assaulted a Dutch reporter and cameraman prior to the club's 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, saying the supporter did what he had to do and the press had been warned.

Per Sport Witness, the group put out a statement accompanied with an image that read "F--k the media." In the statement, they not only defended their member but also said it will happen again if the press continues to film fans around the stadium:

"This great success also attracts media, media is media, everything for the viewing figures and sales, as long as it yields money! In Turin, De Telegraaf ran a camera to film the partying and drinking public. People came into the picture who did not want to be in the picture and yet people kept filming. They were already warned, or asked to go with their camera.

"They did it again yesterday and enough has been said to get lost. And then skirmishes happen at the stadium, people keep filming, everything after all for the figures. Then something happens that we have all been able to see, an F-SIDER does what he has to do. Making sure the press stops filming! The next day the hangover comes and there’s whimpering in the Netherlands for the incident!

"There are still a few competitions ahead of us, which we have to win to win 3 prizes. The press will also be present in large numbers. That is why we warn one more time: just get lost with your cameras! From now on you are fair game!"

Telegraaf reporter Pim Sedee and his cameraman were reporting live from outside Spurs' stadium ahead of the match when the fan struck both without warning. WNL's Mark Kampers shared video footage of the incident:

https://twitter.com/MarkWNL/status/1123493132576940032

De Telegraaf reported the attacker has been arrested (in Dutch). He wasn't the only one, per the Daily Star:

Spurs and Ajax fans hurl BOTTLES and traffic cones — 9 arrested in #ChampionsLeague brawl #TOTAjax #COYS https://t.co/zcCcX6iWxI pic.twitter.com/UA1dVgWA4I

— Daily Star (@dailystar) April 30, 2019

The incident marred what was another fantastic night for Dutch football. Donny van de Beek scored the only goal of the match after 15 minutes, giving the Amsterdammers an away-goal advantage going into the second leg, to be played next Wednesday.

Ajax have been the revelation of this year's Champions League, knocking out three-time defending champions Real Madrid and Italian giants Juventus in back-to-back rounds.

The Dutch squad is filled with young talents like Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and David Neres, and they play a free-flowing, attacking style of football that has won them many fans.

They'll face Willem II in the KNVB Cup final on Sunday before Wednesday's Champions League second leg. 

Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt said that one of the keys to the team's success is that they don't rely on star players.

The Dutchman spoke after his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old centre-back gave insight into Ajax's methods to Sky Sport and did not class himself as a star player in the side (h/t Sport):

"We know each other really well. We always think about possession first, we're friends, we are always together and we don't have stars. 

"We are a team and that's our biggest strength. I wouldn't say I am a [star], I am a normal kid who is in the semi-finals, we played well and I am happy."

Some might disagree on De Ligt's self-assessment, given he's already the team's captain and led them to victories over Real Madrid and Juventus in the last two rounds.

Squawka's Muhammad Butt was impressed with his performance in north London against Spurs:

De Ligt has been ridiculously good. what an absolute colossus.

— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) April 30, 2019

Grup 14's Rafael Hernandez praised his leadership and Ajax's ability to work as a group:

De Ligt was caught out a few times but his command of the back line showed. Not a single Ajax player performed badly, they performed almost perfectly as a single unit.

— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) April 30, 2019

Lacking the injured Harry Kane and the suspended Heung-Min Son, Spurs managed just one shot on target at home against Ajax, who took the lead in the tie through Donny van de Beek after 15 minutes.

De Ligt added:

"We're really happy because it's really difficult to play against Tottenham, they're a great team.

"In the first half we did well, after that, [Spurs] changed in the second half and they grew. There are still 90 minutes to go and anything can happen." 

Van de Beek's goal was Ajax's 161st in all competitions this season, a record-breaking tally for a Dutch side.

Dusan Tadic has contributed to almost one third of them:

Dušan Tadić has played 51 games for Ajax across all competitions this season...

He's scored 3️⃣4️⃣ goals and assisted another 1️⃣9️⃣ 👏

Crazy numbers 🤯 pic.twitter.com/pDbEVB7blz

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 24, 2019

That would typically earn him star status in almost any other side, but Ajax, who have hit five or more in a single game on 11 occasions this season, spread their goals around.

He and Van de Beek are among six players to reach double figures for goals in all competitions, alongside Hakim Ziyech, David Neres, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Kasper Dolberg. All aside from the latter two are in double figures for assists too.

Behind them, De Ligt and Frenkie de Jong add composure and technical quality to their defence and midfield, respectively.

De Jong has already agreed to join Barcelona this summer, while De Ligt has frequently been linked with them, though he would not be drawn on his future: "I don't know, I am not thinking about that right now. I play football and later I'll see what happens."

Whether he joins Barca or not, it's difficult to imagine him staying at Ajax beyond the summer after announcing himself to Europe's elite so impressively this season.

The teenager may not consider himself a star yet, but it seems he's destined to become one. 

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has dismissed suggestions from Tottenham Hotspur counterpart Mauricio Pochettino that his side are favourites for their UEFA Champions League semi-final opening leg on Tuesday. 

Pochettino recently referred to the absences of injured Harry Kane and suspended Heung-min Son as cause to favour Ajax and told reporters the Dutch club calendar favoured the Eredivisie side. 

Ten Hag took umbrage with that assessment of the first-leg fixture, however, and said at a press conference on Monday that the difference in payouts between their respective leagues levelled the playing field:

"We get €10 million (£8.7 million) for playing in Eredivisie and they get many more millions for being in the Premier League. Is that not unfair on us?

"There are always differing circumstances. Everybody has different circumstances. You just have to deal with them. That's what we do."

Pochettino made his remarks before Spurs fell 1-0 at home to West Ham United on Saturday, a disappointing defeat they'll hope isn't a precursor to their meeting with Ajax in north London.

The Dutch outfit have defied the odds to knock Real Madrid and Juventus out of the knockout stages, and there is a sense it could be a rare opportunity for this particular class (U.S. only):

https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1122939237622411264

Kane's season is in doubt due to an ankle ligament injury, but advancing to the Champions League final would be one way for Spurs to give their star man a chance of returning before the campaign finishes.

Son is suspended for the visit of Ajax after picking up his third caution of the tournament in the second leg of their quarter-final victory against English rivals Manchester City.

To contrast Ten Hag's judgement over winnings against Ajax's English equivalents, 2016-17 Premier League champions Chelsea received more than £150 million in total winnings, per Goal's Ryan Kelly. Teams in the English top flight received close to £80 million each that season in TV distribution alone.

The tactician added Ajax have thrived through a combination of young, lesser-known talents and good recruitment of experienced players from foreign divisions, per TalkSport's Ian Abrahams:

Erik ten Hag says he bought in Daley Blind and Dusan Tadic with a view to bringing the experience to the squad to win big matches like this pic.twitter.com/aMUqRGc3Sw

— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) April 29, 2019

Both Daley Blind, 29, and Dusan Tadic, 30, had slumped at Manchester United and Southampton, respectively, but both boasted prior Eredivisie experience and have been smash hits for Ten Hag.

Pochettino sees his journey at Tottenham as a fairy tale of its own and recently illustrated how his side are exceeding expectations, via the Guardian:

Tottenham’s story won’t be repeated in football, says Mauricio Pochettino https://t.co/3efOMnH6Ou By @DaveHytner pic.twitter.com/Gr9PYnXFoL

— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) April 29, 2019

One could easily put Pochettino's comments down as little more than mind games ahead of such a crucial clash. Spurs failed to sign any players during the last two transfer windows and have succeeded despite the dearth of new arrivals.

Ten Hag doesn't appear willing to let Spurs steal the underdog title, however, as his side hope to capitalise on their hosts' torment by clinching a first-leg advantage at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ajax have been lighting it up in the Champions League but how hard is it to replicate that form on FIFA 19?

It is not easy, but if you follow these tips you can develop a team that can upset the big boys.

In the early days of January this year, with the Eredivisie in the middle of its winter break, Ajax boarded a plane and traveled to the United States to take part in the Florida Cup exhibition tournament. Besides preparing for the second half of the season, the exciting crop of youngsters from Amsterdam could relax and get some rest.

With fixtures against Brazilian powerhouses Flamengo and Sao Paulo on the schedule, Ajax winger David Neres was in high demand, with reporters from his homeland keen to catch a word with him.

However, any exclusive interview request with him came with it a direct warning from Ajax's media team.

"If you mention China, I'll take him out," said one of the officers in Orlando.

A €45 million offer for Neres was on the table from Chinese outfit Guangzhou Evergrande and the Brazilian winger was considering his options. At that time, the then-21-year-old wasn't on the best of terms with coach Erik ten Hag. Neres was finding it hard to accept a spell on the bench, especially after a standout performance against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

The club's fans seemed to be in his corner and launched a "Free Neres" campaign on social media.

Ajax, on the other hand, were pondering letting him go if they managed to secure Mexican teenager Diego Lainez from Club America. However, by the end of the January transfer window, Lainez chose to join Real Betis instead of Ajax, forcing sporting director Marc Overmars to refuse the mega-bid from China.

It proved to be turning point for Neres' season, and likely for his career.

"[If I had gone to the Chinese Super League] I think I wouldn't be here now because the Champions League gets you into the limelight," he admitted in a press conference with the Brazil national team in March.

Until then, regardless of his recent form, Neres had never been called up to an international camp.

It took so long for him to be noticed that some back home jokingly suggested Brazil's boss Tite must have thought he was Dutch and his actual name was "David van der Neres."

The football world knows his name now, though.

Alongside the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Dusan Tadic, Neres helped guide Ajax to their first Champions League semi-finals since the 1996-97 season. Tottenham Hotspur stand between them and a place in the final.

Arguably the most talented Brazilian to play in the Netherlands since Ronaldo in the 1990s, Neres was key in the historic 4-1 win against Real Madrid in the round of 16, scoring once and delighting fans with his skills. "Neres, we thank your mother," reacted a Dutch commentator after his masterclass at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

In the quarter-finals, facing Juventus, he netted once again, cutting inside and curling a fantastic finish into the top corner to level the score at 1-1 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. His shot kept hopes alive for Turin, and the rest is history. A 2-1 second-leg victory continued Ajax's fairytale run.

Neres' confidence has never been higher.

One of the most talked-about players in Europe right now, he has been unstoppable on occasions, showing he's more than a dribbler and improving his end product week in and week out.

Extravagant on the pitch, the No. 7 is usually a completely different person off it. He is very shy and reserved. Journalists who ask him questions in post-match mixed zones usually have to settle for monosyllabic answers.

He's starting to speak in English more often and has also developed a reputation in Amsterdam for beginning his reply to every question with "It's crazy."

He's improving, though, and getting more comfortable with the limelight.

When Neres reported to Brazil camp for a friendly against Panama in Porto, Portugal, in March, he was subjected to a tradition for newcomers inside the team. After dinner, he had to stand up on a chair, introduce himself and say a few words in front of his new team-mates.

And that was the moment he created a stir on his first call-up.

As he began his speech, mentioning people who had been important throughout his journey, he thanked his family, buddies, girlfriend and also dedicated a special word to Casemiro. A reference, of course, to the 4-1 thrashing of Real Madrid a few days previous. Everyone laughed out loud inside the room, except for Casemiro.

Neres revealed in an interview with Het Parool newspaper that the defensive midfielder looked angry and did not seem to have enjoyed the joke at all. He later apologised and cleared the air.

The skilful, pacey and agile Brazilian expresses himself much better when running into the box like he did against Real Madrid to finish off Tadic's outrageous assist for the second goal in Ajax's already iconic 4-1 success in Madrid.

Ajax paid €15 million to bring Neres to Europe in the winter of 2017 despite the fact that he had played just eight senior games for Sao Paulo.

That made him the club's second-most-expensive signing ever at the time, behind Miralem Sulejmani from SC Heerenveen in 2008. It suddenly became clear that pressure would come from everywhere.

A few months after his arrival, former midfielder Ronald de Boer wrote a column for Voetbal International (h/t UOL) arguing he was still not convinced about his purchase. At that same time, Neres was being branded overpriced by his own bosses. "We have just paid too much, we know that, in relation to other transfers, but we had been chasing him for a year already," Overmars admitted.

The potential was there, but something was still missing.

Fortunately, the phonebook of Ajax's chief executive Edwin van der Sar proved helpful at that moment.

"To be honest, they [Ajax] were not hopeful he would excel in the way he's doing now. Right in the first months, Van der Sar called me and asked me if I could come around to the training sessions and hang out with them. Neres was struggling a lot to adapt to the new culture, climate, language and playing system," Wamberto, a Brazilian former Ajax forward, tells Bleacher Report.

"Back then, I was spending some time in Russia with one of my sons, Wanderson, who is a defender for Krasnodar, and bought a flight ticket to Amsterdam right away.

"Neres plays more or less in the same position I used to play, so, among other things, they asked me to translate the tactical instructions for him. It was Van der Sar, Aaron Winter, who is now working as assistant coach, and me. A while after that, he started progressing and settling in at the club."

Even in Portuguese, Wamberto had a hard time initially figuring out how to get closer to Neres and winning his trust.

"In the beginning, he was a bit shy, didn't speak much—while I said 10 words, he would say one," adds the member of Ajax veterans' side, laughing.

At first, watching Neres' behaviour may give the impression that he's sullen and has a couldn't-care-less attitude, but one could not be more wrong.

He has gone through a lot in his life, having come from Perus, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in western Sao Paulo, with drugs and crime constantly lurking.

He used to share a small apartment with his parents and three siblings, but, a few years later, the right-winger moved into Sao Paulo's famed academy Cotia, arguably the most impressive finishing school in South American football.

He had everything a young player could possibly need there, and attended some of the best private schools in town, but that was also when problems started for him.

"He has a natural talent, but was perhaps too reserved and faced some prejudice while he was growing up. Being a kid from the outskirts of the city isn't easy if you are in a private school," says Marcelo Lima, a former Sao Paulo youth football coordinator, in an interview to B/R.

"He got involved in some fight at school when he was in our U16 age group and one of Sao Paulo's officers decided to send him back to his parents' house in Perus. I have no doubt the officer's main goal was to screw Neres' life, making it more difficult for him to attend classes and then getting him expelled from the club.

"One morning, Orlando [Ribeiro, coach] and me went to our director [Geraldo Oliveira, who passed away in 2017] and explained what was going on. He immediately ordered Neres to return to Cotia's facilities. So, this is the sort of thing he had to cope with. He was so quiet that he couldn't even stand up for himself in school."

When you face such situations, it's only natural to create a self-defense mechanism and become suspicious of those around you.

Perhaps, that's one of the reasons why when Brazil's head coach Tite called his phone to welcome him to the national team, he ignored it. Not recognising the number, Neres declined to answer, he told De Telegraaf last month.

Neres takes all calls from Lucas Fernandes, however.

A former Cotia graduate currently on loan at Portuguese side Portimonense, Fernandes is Neres' best friend in football. At Sao Paulo, some rated him higher than the Ajax winger, and the two of them dream about reuniting in Europe.

"He's one of the nicest guys I've ever known. It's a shame most people don't get to see this side of him. He's a bit reserved, quieter, a man of few words when he's around strangers. But he is the sort of person who values friendship and you can always count on," Fernandes tells B/R.

"How can you say anything negative of a kid who used to sleep with a teddy bear on his bed? It's impossible."

Fernandes had planned to watch Neres' brilliant performance against Real Madrid in person but missed the flight because a training session ran late.

"I still want to see him in action this season. Maybe in the Champions League final in Madrid. It would be a dream come true," he continues.

"It's amazing how much he has developed on and off the pitch. We've known each other since we were around 13 years old. Back then, he didn't even play in the forward line, he was sometimes used as a left-back, other times as a centre-back. But his dribbling has always been this exceptional."

If Fernandes does not see Neres lining up for Ajax this season, he might not get another chance.  

Living in a modern house in IJburg, an Amsterdam district built over a number of artificial islands, Neres likes to spend some of his spare time feeding the ducks from his deck, but he's looking forward to moving elsewhere.

Sources close to his representatives have told B/R that leaving Ajax at the end of this season looks extremely likely. However, it remains to be seen what his next destination will be.

After scoring 14 goals and providing 13 assists in the 2017-18 Eredivisie season, Neres told Goal in November that Borussia Dortmund and Roma came asking for him but were both turned down.

His Champions League adventures have won even more admirers and international recognition this term.

B/R understands Everton, Milan and Paris Saint-Germain have already held preliminary talks about a potential deal, with a big-money move away from the Johan Cruijff ArenA being discussed between the parties since February.

After refusing a €45 million offer from Guangzhou Evergrande in January, Ajax expect a large transfer fee for his services.

Before cashing in on Neres, though, the Dutch giants want the Brazilian to win his first professional title. Ajax are top of the Eredivise and also in the Dutch Cup final, but after knocking out Real Madrid and Juventus, the Champions League is the prize they covet most of all. Watch out, Tottenham.

Follow Marcus on Twitter: @_marcus_alves

Ajax are this season's football fairytale—a team with amazing ability and, seemingly, no boundary to their limitations.

They have become every neutral's favourite side. Their UEFA Champions League journey has brought joy and romance to a competition that can so often feel elitist and predictable.

At the start of this season, most fans outside of Amsterdam would have struggled to name their players, yet now they roll off the tongue. Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Hakim Ziyech, David Neres...the football world is falling in love with them.

They have knocked out Real Madrid and they have seen off Juventus. Next up, they face Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals.

So how did this happen? We know they have an incredible, rich history thanks to traditions ingrained in their DNA through the coaching principles of Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, but this reemergence has come very suddenly. 

They have not even won the Eredivisie since 2014, and their most recent European success came in 1995. We spoke to some influential and knowledgeable figures around the club to get an idea of how this young, fun crop of players from the Netherlands have stunned the giants of Europe. 

                   

BECOMING 'EUROPE-PROOF'

Trusting their academy talent is a great trait, but the vision has been altered in recent times to boost their chances of competing both domestically and on the European stage. 

@DuBlanqeBogarde is a well-informed Ajax pundit on Twitter, followed by both journalists and supporters. 

"International media have focused on the huge differences in budgets between Ajax and their opponents, which makes sense to a certain degree because the difference really is huge," he told B/R. 

"However, it's worth noting that Ajax has actually been investing quite heavily, compared to recent years and other teams in the Eredivisie. During last season, boss Erik ten Hag and director of football Marc Overmars made an analysis of the squad and tried to identify what was needed to make Ajax 'Europe-proof,' so to speak. 

"They realised they were missing some more experienced players in their late 20s, guys that know what it takes to win in international football and guys that still have something prove. That's why they spent big on Dusan Tadic and Daley Blind and increased wages to attract and keep good players. 

"Young talent alone is not enough, as talent needs guidance and leadership on and off the pitch." 

Jan Verdonk is an ardent Ajax supporter who never misses a game, and explained: "A changed financial situation in European football has changed things. I think Ajax has profited from the expansion of financial power at a lot of clubs in European football. For example, when Arkadiusz Milik went to Napoli for €34 million. I don't think this was possible 10 years ago. 

"It is also worth noting the changed contract policy for youth players. Ajax initially refused to give contracts to 16-year-old players—they waited until they were 17. Because of this, players like Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Javairo Dilrosun left the club. Ajax changed this policy a couple of years ago, which means 16-year-old talents do get a contract now. Less players leave the club now, and this really was an important decision."

                 

MANAGERIAL NOUS

Ten Hag arrived from Utrecht in 2017, and it has certainly not been plain sailing.

"I called him Bootleg Pep when he first started," admits DuBlanqeBogarde. "That was a joke, meant as a slight insult to a coach that, to me, felt like a poor man's Guardiola. I have to take it all back, because he actually is a tactical genius.

"His determination, vision and absolutely insane dedication in striving for perfection has given the players the tools they need to excel, without losing the freedom to trust their instinct and the feeling they're playing with their friends in the park on a Saturday afternoon.

"He demands 24/7 dedication of his players but isn't blind or deaf to their ideas—he even encourages it. Players and staff seem to have clicked in a way that creates a 'Yeah, we beat Juve 1-2, but it should have been 1-4' mentality, in a good way." 

Michael Bell of Football-Oranje.com hopes the coach begins to become more recognised. "He went into the campaign under some pressure—because he didn't really know his best 11," he told B/R.

"Frenkie de Jong wasn't even a guaranteed starter, and performances early on weren't great. However, I think the confidence the results in the Champions League group stage brought has been behind this run. They showed they could go toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich, and that has allowed them to play with no fear against the big sides.

"Ten Hag is not getting a lot of credit for his European record. With Ajax and Utrecht, he has only lost two out of 22 matches in Europe. A lot more should be getting said about how he has turned his tenure at Ajax around."

Ajax coach Erik ten Hag: "I watch Bayern play every weekend. Bayern have become my club. Since Pep, football in Germany is different, I looked at almost every training back then, and I took a lot of methodical lessons on how to transfer his philosophy to the pitch." [SZ] pic.twitter.com/RhHIFjOyXQ

— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) April 11, 2019

FITNESS LEVELS 

Part of Ten Hag's relentless pursuit of success focuses on making sure his best team is available to him. He leaves no stone unturned in making sure his players are given the best opportunity to be in top condition.

"If you look at our squad, you will notice it is rather small," explains Verdonk. "If one of our top guys gets injured, we will have a huge problem. Real Madrid missed Vinicius Junior and Sergio Ramos against us. If we would miss De Ligt and Tadic, I don't think we would be able to beat top clubs.

"Ten Hag really is the explanation of this, because he is maniacally looking at details. Every player has to rate his fitness after a training, and Ajax uses all kinds of technology to measure this. Because of this, players rarely get injured. It's really the only way we can be competitive in Europe. 

"For me, he is way better than Frank de Boer when it comes to vision and knowledge of scientific insights."

             

REALISING POTENTIAL

It was a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich in the group stage and then another tie, this time 3-3, with the German champions in Amsterdam that started to give the players and fans a sense of quite how good they really were.

Arco Gnocchi produces Ajax's Pantelic Podcast and recognises the blend of components that merged to form this brilliant side.

"Finally having this perfect mix between young, cheeky, daring, audacious, raw talent and players who are peaking has been so vital," he said. "All together they don't abide by the rules of upper-tier-level football.

"You're not supposed to pressure away at Real or Juve or Bayern. And normally, if you try, you get punished with a 5-0 trouncing.

"But every game, they seem to one-up their efforts to a level they're not supposed to be at. The learning curve is extremely, incomprehensibly steep. This is the first and last time they'll play together in this makeup/formation, and they know it."

              

Ajax get to rest up before they play Spurs 👀 pic.twitter.com/dsh2cKQMDG

— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 19, 2019

POSITIONAL FLUIDITY 

Guardiola teams are so often lauded for the front-line movement that baffles opponents, and Ajax have adapted the model to form their own brilliant game plans.

"I'm sure people by now have noticed we're playing without a striker, but it's been a brilliant move by Ten Hag," explains DuBlanqeBogarde. "The way Ajax is playing with so many players switching positions—especially upfront, with Neres, Tadic and Ziyech just doing whatever they like—you just know they'll create big chances, even against giants like Madrid or Juventus.

"Ajax never really changes their tactics or principles, but instead makes very small changes to the game plan. It's a style that creates a type of organised chaos that big teams aren't used to.

"Players drop deep, make dummy runs, create space for our midfielders and backs. When someone tries to close us down, they always run the risk of a deep through ball. It's just really hard to defend, especially in later stages of the game when you're getting tired and lose focus.

"Also take notice of how Neres, de Jong and Ziyech are never bothered by a failed dribble or something.

"When Frenkie's failed dribble in his own box against Madrid almost allowed Benzema to score, a journalist told him after the game: 'Don't do it again.' Frenkie replied: 'I will definitely do it again next time, but just a bit better.'

"That's this Ajax in a nutshell." 

                      

SHEER QUALITY

Of course, none of this would be possible without an underlying technical brilliance that allows the players to show such confidence.

"The team's ball ability is also very important," insists Ajax supporter Verdonk. "Until a couple of years ago, we had too many players who couldn't get the ball from A to B when they were under pressure. Right now, almost all our players dare to pass the ball forward, and they have the ability to dribble past opponents. Because of this, we are able to play as attractive as we are doing at the moment. 

"I don't think people really comprehend yet how unique Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt really are. These two are so good, and could be easily be among the top 10 Dutch players ever. To have them both at the same time at Ajax for me is fundamental for the current success. I think the Dutch national team could become world champions in the next 12 years because of them."

                     

INSPIRATION

Beneath all of these factors is a level of determination and drive that few, if any, other Champions League club can match.

Ajax's journey is about more than football results—it's about relationships, history and pride.

Kevin Suave of leading club platform AjaxTimes has been watching closely every step of the way and is in no doubt about the bonds that have helped this incredible bunch of footballers fulfil their potential.

"After the Europa League final defeat against Manchester United just two years ago, we lost most of our strongest players and the manager who finally had us playing authentic Ajax football again," he explained to B/R. 

"We had to start from scratch, with new players and a new manager—Marcel Keizer. Then in the lead-up to the new season, Appie happened."

Abdelhak Nouri—Appie to his friends—collapsed following a heart attack during a pre-season match with Werder Bremen in 2017. Tragically, he was left permanently brain damaged. 

"The whole situation has had such impact on the club," says Suave. "That wound will never heal. Some of the current Ajax players were best friends with Appie. They played with him throughout most of their academy years. Had promised each other to make it together. To reach the first team together. To bring glory to the club, together. It overshadowed everything. Football became a sideshow.

"Keizer was the man who had to deal with the aftermath of the Nouri incident but was sacked later in the season. That's when Erik ten Hag entered.

"He was mostly greeted with scepticism, because the fans' perspective had gone from incredibly optimistic for the Europa League final, to depressed over Nouri, no European football, no league title, nothing. 

"At the start of this season, Ten Hag still didn't have that much credit with fans nor pundits. He wasn't considered a good fit for Ajax by most people, but slowly turned that around.

"We aren't just doing well in the Champions League. We're also in the Dutch Cup final and on our way to winning our first Eredivisie title in four years. Things couldn't have been worse two years ago, but look at us now.

"A remarkable transformation and one helluva job. Ajax have always managed to build squads filled with talented and hyped youngsters who would go on to impress and create somewhat of a name for themselves, but as soon as we'd go up against teams like Real Madrid or Barcelona, we got slaughtered. The skill gap was just too big. 

"Most fans had already made peace with the fact we would never play a serious role in European football again. But now things are different.

"We have a special generation of talents compared with a number of well-rounded experienced players and a manager who—hugely inspired by Guardiola and Cruyff—knows how Ajax is expected to play.

"I have been in absolute awe during most of the Champions League knockout stage games. While I realise we are witnessing a unique group of very skilled players—this is Real Madrid and Juventus we are talking about. The way we managed to defeat them both—I am still speechless. This season is wonderful. Amazing."

Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong has said his side found it harder to overcome defending champions Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League than their quarter-final opponents Juventus. 

The Dutch side produced an excellent performance in the competition on Tuesday, as they beat the Italian giants 2-1 in Turin, ensuring a 3-2 progression into the semi-finals on aggregate. The remarkable result follows on from Ajax's upset of Madrid, as they won the last-16 tie 5-3 on aggregate; that included a stunning 4-1 success at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite the tighter scoreline in Italy, De Jong said after the win that the team were more comfortable against Juventus than Madrid, per RMC Sport (h/t Sacha Pisani of Goal):

"I do not know if this is the best match of our lives but it went well. In Madrid it was harder because we lost in the first leg. Juve are very strong, very disciplined, we showed in the second half the team we could be. The coach asked the same things as usual, play high and play possession. 

"Win the Champions League? We are in the semi-finals, we have a chance, but we are not favourites. But of course, it's always possible."

Given the issues Real Madrid have endured this season both in Europe and domestically, many expected Juventus to offer a much more robust test of the mettle of this Ajax team. However, the Amsterdam outfit were the dominant force for much of the quarter-final.

After Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for the hosts, goals from Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt either side of half time were enough to see Ajax through (U.S. only):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1118237140733898752

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1118250790731362304

After the game, it was clear just how much the result meant to the Ajax players:

ABSOLUTE SCENES!!! 🏆#UCL #juvaja pic.twitter.com/XnmLWdy6Lj

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) April 16, 2019

Juventus have developed a deserved reputation in recent years for being tough to beat on home soil, so the manner in which they were swept aside was staggering.

In defence, Ajax were marshalled tremendously by De Ligt, while De Jong was a steadying influence in midfield. At the top end of the pitch, Dusan Tadic, Hakim Ziyech and David Neres were too hot to handle as well.

While Ajax supporters will be enjoying this run, they will be wary of elite sides seeking to pinch some of their star players, with De Jong having already agreed to join Barcelona. Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe compared them to the Monaco outfit of two years ago:

That Ajax XI tonight looks like it has about £350m worth of talent in it. In several cases the players’ values will never be higher. They’re in for the summer that will eclipse Monaco’s 2017 when it comes to sales. 💰💰💰

— Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) April 16, 2019

Rory Smith of the New York Times said stories like Ajax's are important in the competition:

It's almost like the Champions League is better when teams from more than just the five countries with the largest TV markets do well and we shouldn't just cram the competition full of as many of them as possible.

— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) April 16, 2019

Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur await Ajax in the semi-finals. The second leg of that tie will be played on Wednesday, with Spurs taking a 1-0 lead to the Etihad Stadium.

Although fans of both clubs will be thankful they don't have Ronaldo waiting for them in the next round, Ajax have earned the right to be taken seriously this season. They have the talent, temperament and confidence needed to make it to the final in Madrid.

Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong is fit to face Juventus in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, according to his agent Ali Dursun. 

The Dutchman sparked concern when he was brought off 28 minutes into Ajax's 6-2 win over Excelsior on Saturday, but Dursun told De Telegraaf (h/t Calciomercato):

"Frenkie is fit. He will go to Turin, and I think he will play. He is positive. We were all worried on Saturday, but the substitution was only precautionary. The pain has never been strong, the shock was bigger than the injury."

As football writer Karl Matchett observed, his exit appeared to be brought on by a hamstring problem:

🇳🇱😑 Frenkie de Jong off injured for Ajax which isn't a good sign ahead of the CL QF second leg against Juventus.

Holding his hamstring as he disappears down the tunnel.

— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) April 13, 2019

Ajax travel to Turin having held Juve to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final (U.S. only):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1116098532505788416

AS' Robbie Dunne was critical of the 21-year-old for letting Cristiano Ronaldo escape his attentions to score for the Bianconeri:

Ronaldo lost De Jong too easily. He just sprinted by him and he didn't even make an effort to track him.

— Robbie Dunne (@robbiejdunne) April 10, 2019

Though he could have done better in that situation, he also made a vital intervention to deny Federico Bernardeschi during the game.

Aside from his part in Ronaldo's goal, it was otherwise an excellent performance from the youngster on European club football's biggest stage (UK only):

Frenkie De Jong's highlights against Juventus:

92% pass accuracy (90/98 completed)
6 tackles won
3 interceptions
2 key passes
1 BRILLIANT last-ditch tackle

Even at just 21 years of age, he's bossing the elite and has an aura about him. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Dp3Tvjdl7Q

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2019

The Barcelona-bound starlet is a key player for Ajax, and he helped the Eredivisie outfit dominate the midfield battle against Juve with his composure on the ball and strong distribution.

If Ajax are to upset the odds on Tuesday and progress at the Italian giants' expense, they need him to do so again.

Ajax suffered a major blow during Saturday's 6-2 win over Excelsior, as star midfielder Frenkie de Jong came off early with a injury, putting his status for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash against Juventus in doubt.

Per Football Italia, the Dutch international lasted just 28 minutes minutes before he was substituted, and he immediately headed down the tunnel.

Fox Sports shared footage of the 21-year-old leaving the pitch as he appeared to reach for his hamstring:

🔁 | Een aderlating voor Ajax: drie dagen voor de wedstrijd tegen Juventus moet Frenkie de Jong het veld met een blessure verlaten.#ajaexc https://t.co/R2p4mJLJF9 pic.twitter.com/5k3VR8jy47

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) April 13, 2019

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag took a major risk starting the midfielder, but Ajax are locked in a tight Eredivisie title battle with PSV and had to beat Excelsior. They cruised to an easy win, with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar bagging a hat-trick in the romp.

But the victory could prove costly if De Jong misses out on Tuesday's match in Turin. The rising star was arguably the best player on the pitch in the 1-1 first-leg draw in Amsterdam that left the door wide open for the underdogs to advance.

De Jong was so good that even opposing manager Massimiliano Allegri went out of his way to praise him, per UEFA.com (h/t The Independent):

"De Jong is the real source of their game. We tried to control him with (Rodrigo) Bentancur in the early stages but, when he understood that, he moved deeper, and the forwards had to work hard on him. He played very well.

"Ajax have great qualities. They keep the ball well even when there are no spaces. I think we defended well even if we had to be better when we won the ball in midfield."

BT Sport shared some of his stats and highlights of that match (UK viewers only):

Frenkie De Jong's highlights against Juventus:

92% pass accuracy (90/98 completed)
6 tackles won
3 interceptions
2 key passes
1 BRILLIANT last-ditch tackle

Even at just 21 years of age, he's bossing the elite and has an aura about him. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Dp3Tvjdl7Q

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2019

Jurgen Ekkelenkamp was his replacement against Excelsior and also played the last 15 minutes against Juventus. At the age of 19 and having made just six senior appearances, it would be a tall task for him to replace the Barcelona-bound De Jong.

Ajax will already be without the suspended Nicolas Tagliafico for the return leg on Tuesday.

Ajax director of football Marc Overmars has said his club are "on good terms with Barcelona," but talk of a loan partnership between the two outfits won't turn the Dutch giants into a feeder club. 

Soon after Frenkie de Jong's summer transfer to the Camp Nou was struck, Overmars confirmed rumours of a loan collaboration between the clubs but told NOS (h/t Goal's Tom Storer) Ajax won't lose their identity:

"We know that we are on good terms with Barcelona. Barcelona wants to talk to us to see if they can loan players.

"Of course, we are not going to get too many players from Barcelona. We are not a branch of that club.

"We already have talents in our own youth academy. These would be slightly older players, or players who just broke through. However, the plans have not been developed that far."

There has been speculation about Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, 19, the other Amsterdam-based player who has been strongly linked with a move to Catalonia at the end of this season.

It's possible an influx of players from the Camp Nou is a bargaining tool for Barca to aid their pursuit of De Ligt, the teenager already capped 15 times by his country.

The Godenzonen, like Barcelona, have long been renowned for the strength and productivity of their academy, of which De Ligt is the latest star to emerge with genuine world-class promise:

14-years-old De Ligt did this! 😱🔥#TalentTuesday #ABNAMRO pic.twitter.com/D1s5lRxlSs

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) March 26, 2019

Ajax don't often make a habit of loaning players from other teams. They've loaned four players in the past four seasons, and it's usually the Eredivisie side who farm their own young out for experience.

That being said, they have a history with Barcelona in particular and signed former Blaugrana prodigy Bojan Krkic in 2013-14. They loaned winger Isaac Cuenca from the Camp Nou the season prior to that.

Barcelona purchased De Jong for €75 million (plus €11 million in add-ons), and De Ligt could fetch an even greater price if he leaves the Johan Cruyff Arena this summer. 

That being said, writer Simon Kuper commented on how the Dutch dynamos were compromised during a recent 3-2 defeat to Germany in UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying:

#NEDGER 0-2 at halftime but NED have got off lightly, and Barcelona must be considering whether they really want to sign Matthijs de Ligt. GER figured out (as others will) that the key is to put a man on Frenkie de Jong to shut him down

— Simon Kuper (@KuperSimon) March 24, 2019

Ajax are having their best European season since 2003 after they beat Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, but progress will be difficult in the near future should they sell both De Jong and De Ligt.

Per Storer's report, former Barcelona academy goalkeeper Andre Onana was linked with a move back to the Camp Nou, only to spurn their interest and sign a new contract:

Oh happy Dré, (oh happy Dré) 🎶🙏

✔️ #Onana2022
🔋 #Onana2030 pic.twitter.com/68ZP9I2UVs

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) March 28, 2019

Ajax are within two points of the Eredivisie summit after beating leaders PSV 3-1 on Sunday, and they can temporarily climb to the top if they win away at 17th-place Emmen on Wednesday.