The ambition is displayed in blue letters in one of the management offices at the De Toekomst training complex. Ajax must eventually have a “Champions League winning clubIt is an aim formulated as a kind of exclamation point behind the new course that the club took just two years ago, at a time when Ajax was in one of the deepest sporting crises in club history.
It’s a bit of swagger, said football director Marijn Beuker in conversation with the club channels in the summer of last year. More of a thought to get all hundreds of employees on the same page than a real goal. What is the goal, after two seasons without participation in the largest European club tournament, technical director Alex Kroes formulated shortly afterwards. “Very simple, get to the Champions League as quickly as possible. Period.”
More than a year later, Ajax is back at the highest level. After a season of struggle under the previous coach, Francesco Farioli, Ajax secured one of those coveted 36 places in the Champions League. But Ajax is far from a contender for victory, or even an outsider, as is painfully clear after four rounds. After Wednesday, Ajax is at the bottom of the standings with 0 points. With only one goal for and fourteen against.
The previous defeats did not come as a surprise, with opponents such as Inter, Chelsea and Olympique de Marseille. But the way it was played was at times not very hopeful: the fact that the score remained at 4-0 in Marseille was mainly because the French team stopped pushing after a while. When visiting Chelsea, Ajax again had no chance: 5-1, after an early red card.
The fourth round, Wednesday evening, at home against Turkish Galatasaray, should have changed that. “We have now had the tough teams,” coach John Heitinga said on Tuesday, in the run-up to the meeting. “We want nothing more than to get rid of that nasty zero now. […] If we want to get points, these are the games.”
Uncertain opening phase
Yet Ajax certainly does not open as if it were looking for a victory in its own Johan Cruijff Arena. The playing style bears little resemblance to the confident, attacking football that Heitinga promised upon his arrival this summer. The home team lets Galatasaray make the play and retreats far into its own half. And if Ajax intercepts the ball once, the team often loses it within two contacts.
It seems like only a matter of time before something goes wrong. After fifteen minutes, top striker Osimhen is able to receive a cross from the air, check it again and then fire it at goal, while he is briefly covered by those Ajax defenders. Three minutes later the same Osimhen heads low towards the right corner. In both cases, goalkeeper Remco Pasveer prevented a goal from conceding with clever saves.
Only after half an hour is the home crowd gently spoiled. Ajax manages to retain possession of the ball for longer, patiently building up towards the opponent’s goal. First winger Mika Godts frees himself, later midfielder Oscar Gloukh, but they hesitate and then pass the ball to a teammate who is not in a good position. Ultimately it is Jorthy Mokio who only makes an attempt, not very convincing, from the second line.
The moment initiates Ajax’s best phase. Galatasaray stops its torrid pressure from the opening phase, is sloppier in the build-up and tries more often through long balls, in vain. But the home team is sloppy with the few opportunities that Ajax gets. Gloukh shoots meters wide, several crosses from right back Anton Gaaei, often completely free, miss their destination by a wide margin.
Striking flute concerto
Just when the match seems to be heading for an unsightly draw, after almost an hour, Leroy Sané gets the ball on the right. The German, who was signed by Galatasaray this summer, curls the ball towards the second post. Ajax defender Josip Šutalo covers poorly, easily letting Osimhen slip away from his back. The attacker dives and heads the ball past goalkeeper Pasveer.
Five minutes later it goes wrong again. A cross from Baris Alper Yilmaz from the left, again aimed at Osimhen. Defender Youri Baas receives the ball on his arm via his knee, a penalty, the referee decides. Osimhen scores. And again ten minutes later, again from a penalty, this time after defender Gerald Alders hits his hand through his knee.
Heitinga watches it with a gray face. The realization dawns that this European competition will not yield anything either. Ajax still gets a few good opportunities, but is sloppy in finishing. Many spectators no longer see that attacker Wout Weghorst almost scores twice late in the match. Ajax plays the match in front of half-empty stands. Those who have stayed behind will start a stirring flute concert just before eleven.
Four European evenings still await Ajax, against weaker opponents than Chelsea or Inter, but certainly not easy. For example, the team will face Villarreal CF, which started poorly in Europe, but third in the Spanish league. And FK Qarabag, surprisingly at 7 points after four rounds in the Champions League. The last chances to prevent a European ticket that was earned with so much zeal and zeal from being meekly and joylessly surrendered.
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