After their thrilling 3-2 victory over Arsenal at home, Ajax faced the 23rd round of the Eredivisie this weekend with a different challenge: an away match against Utrecht.
Utrecht, located just south of Amsterdam, is a short trip for Ajax. However, several key players, including Yang Yang and Ibrahimović, who had played in the intense Champions League clash midweek, were notably absent from the squad list.
It was clear to everyone that Ajax was prioritizing the Champions League. With a seven-point lead in the Eredivisie, Ajax had put themselves in a commanding position to secure the league title, allowing them the flexibility to manage their squad across both domestic and European competitions.
But what surprised everyone was that the opportunity for PSV Eindhoven to close the gap didn't materialize. Despite expectations, Guus Hiddink's team suffered a surprising 1-2 home defeat against Roda JC. PSV conceded two goals in the first twenty minutes, and despite Hesselink pulling one back, they couldn't complete the comeback.
The defeat at home dealt a significant blow to PSV's morale.
Simultaneously, Ajax faced their own struggles. They lost 0-1 to Utrecht away from home. Vermaelen, who started in defense, put in a solid performance, but it wasn't enough to prevent the loss.
The match highlighted Ajax's ongoing offensive issues. Without the firepower of Ibrahimović, Van der Vaart, and the dynamic presence of Yang Yang, Ajax's attacking frailties were laid bare.
Despite the loss, Ajax maintained their seven-point lead over PSV, who remained in second place. They also held a 14-point advantage over third-placed Alkmaar and fourth-placed Feyenoord, keeping a firm grip on the championship race.
A week later, in the 24th round of the Eredivisie, Ajax traveled to face RKC Waalwijk. Ronald Koeman once again opted to rotate his squad, starting Anastasiou in place of Ibrahimović. The Greek striker formed a front three with Sikora and Mitea, but the trio struggled to break down Waalwijk's defense.
Ultimately, Ajax secured a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to an own goal by a Waalwijk defender in the 39th minute.
Meanwhile, after their disappointing performance in the previous round, PSV Eindhoven responded with a dominant 4-0 away win against Utrecht. Hiddink's side scored twice in the final minutes of the first half through Bouma and Van Bommel, and added two more in the closing stages of the second half from Park Ji Sung and Kežman.
Despite PSV's resurgence, Ajax's victory ensured the gap between the two teams remained at seven points.
Elsewhere, Feyenoord's 2-2 home draw with Heerenveen saw them fall further behind Alkmaar, who solidified their hold on third place.
The two rounds of league action, where Koeman opted for heavy squad rotation, made Ajax's priorities abundantly clear. While the Eredivisie title remained important, their primary focus had shifted to the Champions League.
Ajax's 3-2 home win over Arsenal, though a morale boost, was anything but comfortable. The two away goals conceded meant that Ajax would need to be at their defensive best in the return leg at Highbury Stadium if they were to advance to the quarterfinals.
Scoring two away goals at Highbury was a daunting task, one that Ajax couldn't afford to take lightly.
As a result, Ajax's preparations for the match in London were centered around tightening their defense. With the prospect of facing Arsenal's formidable attack on their home turf, the emphasis in training became clear: defense would be the key to surviving Highbury and keeping their Champions League dreams alive.
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To better prepare for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Ajax flew directly from Amsterdam to London the day before the match after completing their training session. The team arrived in the evening and settled into their hotel, where they had dinner before retiring for the night.
The next morning, after a night of rest, the players engaged in a light training session in the hotel gym, focusing on keeping their bodies loose and their minds sharp. The atmosphere was a mix of calm and focus, with everyone acutely aware of the challenge that awaited them.
In the afternoon, head coach Ronald Koeman gathered the team in the hotel's conference room for a crucial pre-match tactical meeting.
In the days leading up to this decisive match, Arsenal had played two games. In the 27th round of the Premier League, they secured a 2-1 victory at Highbury Stadium against Charlton Athletic, with goals from Pirés and Henry in the opening four minutes. The following weekend, in the FA Cup quarter-final, Arsenal demolished Portsmouth 5-1 away, with Henry, Ljungberg, and Kolo Touré all finding the net in the first half, and Henry and Ljungberg adding further goals in the second.
As the team settled into their seats, Koeman began his analysis. "Throughout these two games, Arsenal's powerful offense has been on full display. But what I want to draw your attention to is the timing of their goals."
Behind Koeman, a screen displayed a breakdown of Arsenal's goals from the two recent matches.
"There are two very clear patterns," Koeman continued. "First, the first 20 minutes are absolutely critical, especially at Highbury Stadium. This season, Charlton, Manchester City, and Middlesbrough have all conceded within the first 20 minutes at Highbury. Arsenal uses these early goals to establish control of the game."
"Second, once Arsenal scores, they often follow up with another goal quickly, capitalizing on the momentum. Against Charlton, they scored two goals within the first four minutes. Against Portsmouth, the first goal came in the 26th minute, followed by goals in the 44th, 45th, 50th, and 57th minutes. They're like sharks smelling blood—once they sense weakness, they go for the kill."
Koeman's words hung in the air, the weight of the challenge ahead sinking in for everyone.
"So," Koeman emphasized, "the first 20 minutes of defense are going to be crucial. Arsenal is a team that excels at breaking games open early, especially at home. We need to stay compact and focused, particularly on the flanks and in front of our penalty area."
At this point, Ruud Krol, the assistant coach, took over, advancing the presentation to the next slide, which displayed the expected Arsenal lineup.
The predicted lineup was formidable: Lehmann in goal; a back four of Ashley Cole, Campbell, Kolo Touré, and Lauren; a midfield quartet of Pirés, Edu, Vieira, and Ljungberg; and a strike partnership of Henry and Bergkamp.
Koeman pointed out two significant changes from the first leg. "Bergkamp is back in the lineup. Reyes, who struggled in the first leg, will likely be on the bench. Bergkamp knows us well, and he'll be eager to exploit any weaknesses. Another key change is Ashley Cole's return from injury. Clichy has performed admirably, but Cole is one of the best left-backs in the world, and his return will significantly boost Arsenal's left side."
Koeman continued, "Gilberto Silva is fit again, but Edu has been in excellent form, so it's uncertain if Wenger will risk starting Gilberto. However, we can't rule out the possibility."
He turned back to the screen, pointing to different areas of the pitch. "We need to be particularly wary of the left side. Henry's pace will be a major threat, and with Pirés and Cole supporting him, our right flank will be under constant pressure. On the other side, Ljungberg and Bergkamp have a very fluid and dangerous partnership, which we need to monitor closely."
"But most importantly," Koeman stressed, "we have to protect the area in front of our penalty box. The first goal we conceded in Amsterdam came from a failure to defend this space effectively. If Edu is in the lineup, Wenger will definitely target this area again."
Yang Yang sat quietly, absorbing the analysis. For weeks now, Ajax had been practicing with the 4-2-3-1 formation, which had served them well in the first leg. This setup provided solid protection for the defense and the space in front of the penalty area, thanks to the double pivot in midfield. If needed, the wingers could also drop back to reinforce the defense.
Yang Yang suspected that Ajax would stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation for the second leg. Unlike the first leg, where Ajax pressed aggressively in the opening minutes, this match would demand more caution and a focus on defensive stability. Yang Yang knew that while he could contribute defensively, his real strengths lay elsewhere, and Koeman was unlikely to waste his energy on defensive duties.
In Ajax's squad, there were plenty of players capable of holding the defensive line, but the right side of the attack was where options were limited.
Koeman's plan for the back line was straightforward. Trabelsi, who had done well against Henry in the first leg, would continue on the right. Maxwell, a reliable presence, would hold the left. The central defensive pairing of Heitinga and Escudé would remain unchanged, solid and dependable.
The midfield would feature the double pivot of Galásek and De Jong, providing the necessary cover for the defense. Up front, Ibrahimović was a certainty. The big Swede would be key to disrupting Arsenal's defense and applying pressure to their back line.
However, Yang Yang was less certain about who would be chosen for the left and right flanks, or who would take the crucial attacking midfield role behind Ibrahimović.
He suspected he would start on the bench again.
Sure enough, Koeman announced the starting lineup after outlining the team's strategy and contingency plans for the match.
As Yang Yang had predicted, the lineup was largely as expected. On the left, the coaching staff opted for Wesley Sonck, whose speed made him a potent threat on the counterattack. On the right, Sikora was chosen. The only surprise came in the attacking midfield position, where Sneijder was selected over Van der Vaart.
This decision meant that Van der Vaart, Ajax's captain, would also start on the bench, alongside Yang Yang.
As Koeman revealed the lineup, a few players glanced over at Van der Vaart, curious to see his reaction. But to their surprise, his face showed no trace of anger or frustration. Instead, he looked almost indifferent, as if the decision had no real impact on him. This strange calmness unsettled Yang Yang.
"Did he already know?" Yang Yang wondered. It was the only explanation that made sense. Otherwise, how could Van der Vaart not be upset?
Finally, Koeman concluded the meeting with a heartfelt message. "Whatever happens tomorrow night, I want you to know that I'm proud of every single one of you. You've proven yourselves time and time again, and just being here in London is a testament to your extraordinary talent and hard work. Tomorrow, I want you to give everything you've got—not just for the team, but for yourselves. Play with pride, play with heart, and show everyone what you're capable of."
"The world may be underestimating us right now, but I've believed from the start that we can go to Highbury and qualify."
Koeman's words were met with a round of applause, the room filled with renewed determination and a collective sense of purpose.