Are we witnessing the re-emergence of Ajax as a force in European football?
The four-time European champions – who gave the world Johan Cruyff, Patrick Kluivert, Marco van Basten and Dennis Bergkamp – have gone from the 2017 ignominy of failing to qualify for a Uefa competition to earning a place in the Champions League semi-finals.
Is this a fluke? Or should it come as no surprise?
Former academy player Jordi Cruyff, Johan’s son, told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues Podcast that De Godenzonen (Sons of the Gods) now have all the right ingredients.
Barcelona-bound Frenkie de Jong, 21, defender Matthijs de Ligt, 19, winger David Neres, 22, and Hakim Ziyech, 26 – plus the more experienced Dusan Tadic, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Daley Blind – have helped Ajax not only overachieve in Europe but also lead the Eredivisie.
“Ajax at the moment have an amazing generation. The chemistry is there.
“They have a few players at 19, 20, 21 years of age – which comes every 10 years or so. The club are now benefiting, on and off the pitch, from having these good young stars.
“One of those has been sold to Barcelona [De Jong], but they have this golden hand.
“They have also changed something this season. They have not won the Dutch league since the 2013-14 season – in contrast to what they achieved this week and having reached the 2017 Europa League final – and have made some adjustments.
“The team has young talent, but in every part of the pitch they have players with experience after spending some money to bring in Tadic and Blind.
“I think the experienced ones have guided the young and brought some balance.
“Ajax are now playing excellent football and lead the Dutch league from PSV Eindhoven on goal difference.”
