Chapter 719: The Vine Armor Army
May 8, Evening – Amsterdam, Johan Cruyff Arena – Champions League Semifinal, Second Leg
Manchester United traveled to Amsterdam to face Ajax in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal.
Under Erik ten Hag's leadership, Ajax had an extraordinary season. They not only reached the Champions League semifinals but also dominated domestically. Three days earlier, Ajax claimed the KNVB Cup with a 4-0 victory over Willem II, and they were leading the Eredivisie on goal difference ahead of PSV Eindhoven.
At the Johan Cruyff Arena, Ajax had only lost one match this season—a 1-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Round of 16. Otherwise, their record was formidable:
Eredivisie: 16 home matches with 14 wins and 2 draws.KNVB Cup: 2 wins from 2 home matches.Champions League: 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss at home.
Ajax's attacking power was particularly impressive. In 32 league matches, they scored 111 goals, averaging 3.5 goals per game, making them the highest-scoring team across Europe's top leagues. At home, they netted 66 goals in 16 games, averaging over 4 goals per match.
In the KNVB Cup, Ajax scored 21 goals in 6 matches, averaging 3.5 goals per match.
In the Champions League, including the first leg against Manchester United, they scored 20 goals in 11 matches—a respectable attacking output.
Defensively, Ajax was equally solid:
Eredivisie: 32 matches, 30 goals conceded.Champions League: 11 matches, 11 goals conceded.KNVB Cup: 6 matches, 2 goals conceded.
At home, even powerhouses like Bayern Munich and Juventus couldn't secure victories:
Bayern Munich: 3-3 draw.Juventus: 1-1 draw.AEK Athens: 3-0 win for Ajax.Benfica: 1-0 win for Ajax.
With an average squad age of 24, this youthful Ajax side swept through Europe like a storm, embodying the spirit of a vibrant football revolution.
A Shocking Start
Given Ajax's impressive home record, Manchester United approached the match cautiously. José Mourinho fielded a 4-3-3 formation, pairing Fred and Kante as dual defensive midfielders to tighten the backline.
However, just 4 minutes into the game, Ajax stunned the visitors. Lasse Schöne delivered a precise corner kick from the right, and Matthijs de Ligt rose high in the center to head the ball into the net!
1-0 Ajax!
The home side's dream start leveled the aggregate score at 2-2 while giving Ajax the crucial away goals advantage. If the match ended at this score, Manchester United would be eliminated.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLL!"
The Johan Cruyff Arena erupted in euphoria, with the fans roaring de Ligt's name in unison.
"Matthijs de Ligt! The brilliant Ajax academy graduate and the youngest captain in the club's history has delivered a dream start for his team!"
"Ajax has equalized on aggregate, and with the away goals rule, they're on course to reach their first Champions League final in 23 years!"
The last time Ajax reached this stage was 23 years ago—a period longer than the lifetime of most players on the pitch. For instance:
De Ligt was born in August 1999.Noussair Mazraoui in November 1997.Donny van de Beek in April 1997.Frenkie de Jong in May 1997.Kasper Dolberg in October 1997.
Even goalkeeper André Onana was just one month old in April 1996.
A Storm of Youth
Walking back to the center circle after the goal, N'Golo Kanté glanced at the red-and-white sea of Ajax fans in the stands.
"These guys are crazy!" he muttered.
Kylian Mbappé nodded, adding, "De Ligt is a genius."
The French striker had often faced De Ligt as a rival. In fact, the Dutch defender narrowly lost the 2018 Golden Boy Award to Mbappé. Despite this, De Ligt remained a standout talent and was considered a frontrunner for the 2019 Golden Boy Award, alongside Manchester United's own rising star, Mason Greenwood.
De Ligt's performances this season, including 3 Eredivisie goals and 2 in the Champions League, highlighted his career-best form. With Ajax's impressive campaign and his own standout displays, De Ligt was Europe's most coveted young defender.
Tactical Brilliance and Early Impact
From his playing days to coaching, Erik ten Hag's approach was deeply influenced by Dutch total football and German tactical systems. Having worked under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, he integrated flexibility into Ajax's traditional 4-3-3 formation, often leaning towards a 4-2-3-1 setup when necessary.
This adaptability bore fruit early in the match, with De Ligt's header putting the young Ajax team in control.
Could Manchester United mount a response to this electrifying start?
Under Erik ten Hag's tutelage, Ajax has become a high-pressing, possession-oriented team, combining technical skill with relentless energy.
Unquestionably, this Ajax side exudes attacking passion, transitioning between attack and defense with remarkable speed and constantly pressuring opponents. Their style incorporates Liverpool's intense pressing, Manchester City's short-passing penetration, and the Dutch tradition of using width for diagonal switches.
At the heart of this system is Donny van de Beek, whose connection with the three forwards is crucial.
Despite pre-match instructions to limit his influence, Manchester United's double pivot failed to contain him early in the game. This lapse allowed Van de Beek to break through and fire a shot, though David de Gea saved it. However, the ensuing corner led to Ajax's opening goal.
For N'Golo Kanté, the defensive lynchpin, this was a frustrating moment.
Noticing this, Bruno Fernandes clapped his hands as they returned to position, shouting, "It's okay, it's only four minutes in. Let's settle down, defend properly, and the opportunities will come."
As United's captain, Bruno's influence in the dressing room has grown immensely. His words carried weight, and the team responded. Kanté nodded in appreciation, signaling his understanding.
Tactical Adjustments
"He's really becoming a true leader," Faria remarked with admiration.
Mourinho nodded, clearly agreeing with his assistant. Bruno had become indispensable to the team's dynamics.
After the players resumed their positions, Mourinho walked to the touchline, calling over Fred and Kanté to stress the importance of neutralizing Van de Beek.
"Cut off his supply to the front three," Mourinho instructed.
Van de Beek's synergy with Tadić and Huntelaar was a key component of Ajax's attacking play. As the team's creative fulcrum, he dictated the tempo and transitioned play. Shutting him down would significantly diminish Ajax's attacking threat, allowing United to assert themselves.
In football, sometimes the simplest strategies—when executed effectively—can shift the balance.
Settling the Game
After the restart, Ajax's confidence was still high, but their offensive rhythm slowed. Two factors contributed to this:
United's defensive midfielders tightened their marking on Van de Beek.Ajax, wary of United's counterattacking prowess, avoided overcommitting.
Ten Hag, aware of the danger posed by United's fast breaks, instructed his team to adopt a more cautious approach after securing their early lead. Meanwhile, he also devised specific plans to limit Bruno Fernandes, the heartbeat of United's attack.
Whenever Bruno received the ball, nearby Ajax players—most often De Jong, Schöne, or Van de Beek—pressed immediately. This strategy disrupted Bruno's influence, forcing him to expand his range of movement to create space for his teammates.
Despite his limited effectiveness, Bruno remained composed, persistently running and probing for opportunities.
Mourinho's adjustments, combined with Ajax's tempered aggression, created a deadlock over the next twenty minutes, with neither side generating significant scoring chances.
Bruno's Breakthrough
One moment of disruption came when United intercepted an Ajax attack and launched a long ball to the right flank.
Harry Kane won the aerial duel but, under heavy pressure from De Ligt, was forced to retreat and pass back to the advancing Bruno Fernandes.
As Bruno collected the ball, Schöne and left-back Tagliafico abandoned Kane to press him. The two Ajax players formed a wall in front of Bruno, boxing him in.
Bruno shielded the ball, aware that passing options were limited. Through his peripheral vision, he noticed Kanté in the center and Kane nearby, but the defensive coverage left no immediate passing lane.
Bruno retreated slightly, knowing that his movement would pull at least one defender away. Van de Beek, though industrious, was less effective defensively, and if both Schöne and Tagliafico pressed forward, Kanté could find space to exploit.
(To Be Continued...)
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