Ajax’s youthful team has been the feel-good story of the Champions League, but is it about time that the world starts to recognise Ajax as the best team in the world?
Ajax has always been a good team despite their lack of competitiveness in the Eredivisie let them down when qualifying for the Champions League, but it seems that Erik ten Hag has finally found the key to success.
Their side has been raining youth this season. The average age of the starting side in the first leg of their semi-final against faced Tottenham was just 25, and that’s when players are only meant to be entering their prime. In other words, if Ajax were somehow able to hold onto every one of their players next season and over the course of the next few years, they could be well on their way to becoming the European powerhouse they once were.
Erik ten Hag has played a young star next to or near a very experienced player all season, which has allowed them to keep controlled and has made them a much more compact team. For example, 19-year-old Matthijs de Ligt has been playing next to veteran centre-back Daley Blind.
Daley Blind, who left Manchester United last season because of a lack of game time, has been one of the two starting centre-backs for Ajax this season has been in the best form of his career. He’s actually done better this season than he did at Manchester United while starting pretty much every game. He is making a mockery of the decision to let him go.
In the defensive midfield there is an 11-year age gap between 21-year-old Frenkie de Jong and 32-year-old Lasse Schone. Youngsters David Neres and Donny van de Beek are accompanied in attack by the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Dusan Tadic, and although they aren’t very old, they have experienced football at a high level and are still experienced.
One thing that makes Ajax so hard to shut down in attack is the fact they don’t actually have an out-and-out striker. Because there is no natural striker, everyone is free to move around in attack, and it means that their front four become almost impossible to mark.
Dusan Tadic, the false nine, will come short for the ball, which will pull out both centre-backs and create a big gap in the middle of the park. The Ajax front four have come to know each other so well that their moves are constantly flowing, and they all move around so much that once the right-back who was marking David Neres ended up at left-back due to the movement of Ajax’s stunning front four.
The opposition ended up with their right-back completely out of position and Nicolas Tagliafico was left with way too much space.
The other two names who constantly get mentioned when deciding the best team in the world are Barcelona and Liverpool, but they both had arguably easier draws than Ajax. In the Round of 16 Barcelona faced Lyon and Liverpool faced an underwhelming Bayern Munich. Ajax, meanwhile, was facing Real Madrid, the winner of the four previous Champions League tournaments.
Ajax beat Real Madrid 5-3 on aggregate, Barcelona smashed Lyon 5-1 won on aggregate and Liverpool won 3-1 on aggregate.
In the quarter-finals Barcelona took on a disappointing Manchester United and won 4-0 on aggregate. Liverpool played arguably the easiest team still in the Champions League and prevailed 6-1 on aggregate. Meanwhile, Ajax, who were meant to be swept away by Juventus, won 3-2 on aggregate after a stunning 2-1 win away from home. They now lead Tottenham 1-0 and are yet to play their leg at home.
Ajax has always been a good team, but this year they have taken their game to another level. But could they win the Champions League? And if they do, just how far off will they be from becoming the best team in the world?
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Spurs baby
Jack George
Roar Guru
But is there a difference in quality and 'top', because for me, they could very well be one of the best teams in Europe, but no one really seems to want to go there, and Manchester United and Chelsea are still considered to be a 'step up'
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Personally, no, I don't think it's possible for Ajax to be one of the, say, top 10 clubs in Europe. Meaning, Ajax can offer Donny a very, very good living, but he won't be amongst the best paid players in the world. That's the money side, and even if Ajax can equal anything a big club can offer, for argument's sake, players of that calibre are always going to want to head to one of the big five leagues. (when the time, right offer and right club comes knocking). Also, Ajax are fine with selling these types of players (at a price), their club is partly built on selling the best of the best, and keeping the rest (who are good enough to contend for Eredivisie honours on a regular basis). And plenty return in their twilight years, so they have them for a few years at the start of their career and another couple at the end of their career, and in between they make some very big transfer fees.
Jack George
Roar Guru
But will there be a point where Ajax is a European giant and can lure young stars from Europa League teams? If I was an Ajax player, for example, Donny Van de Beek, where Tottenham are trying to lure me there, I would stay with Ajax at the moment, because they are playing better football and are more exciting (sorry Jordan)!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
They sort of are already, there are always smaller teams, and there are always bigger teams.
Jack George
Roar Guru
I see what you mean and agree, but could Ajax reach the point one day where they are one of those teams that will be knocking on 'smaller' teams doors?
Jack George
Roar Guru
I know, but what if those stars didn't leave? If they could find a way to keep most of their players for a few more seasons, then they could become the European powerhouse they once were.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Probably best to wait and see if they can reach the pinnacle of the CL before asking the question. You might be able to say that at the moment, Ajax represent the best quality for the money spent. As mentioned by JK above, the norm for Eredivisie teams like Ajax is to drip feed the sell off of their best young players. When the biggest teams in Europe come knocking on Ajax's doors, they know from the outset they are dealing with high quality players, this will be no stab in the dark, and they will pay accordingly. So, there is an understanding that a team like this is never kept together. That's what pays the bills. Anyway, that eventuality is for another day, at the moment, we need only say: 'Winnen voor de Ajacieden in de Kuip!'
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
They have the potential to be the best team in the world. But like Monaco a few years ago, all they're young stars will leave for for big money deals. See. Frankie De Jong They'll get knocked out by the mighty Spurs on Thursday anyway.