On the evening of the match, Ajax held a final pre-match meeting where Ronald Koeman announced the starting lineup.
In goal would be Lobont, with the back four consisting of Maxwell, Escudé, Heitinga, and Trabelsi. The midfield trio featured De Jong, Van der Vaart, and Sneijder. Up front, Wesley Sonck, Ibrahimović, and Victor Sikora would lead the attack.
As for Yang Yang, he was once again listed on the bench, with his introduction set to depend on the flow of the game, likely sometime in the second half.
With the Eredivisie title already secured and their opponents in the KNVB Cup final unable to pose a significant threat, Ajax had enjoyed more than ten days to prepare for this Champions League showdown. The team had studied Porto extensively, and the closer the match approached, the calmer they felt.
After the pre-match meeting, before handing in their electronic devices, the players were given a brief moment to call their families.
Yang Yang called his parents, who were in Gelsenkirchen. They had arrived in Amsterdam the day before and had flown to Germany earlier that day with his uncle Shen Ming's family and a group of relatives and friends who had traveled with them. Though Yang Yang had been with the team and unable to see them, just hearing their voices was enough to lift his spirits.
His parents were overjoyed to hear from him. It had been a long time since they'd spoken, and there was plenty to catch up on, but their main concern, of course, was Yang Yang's upcoming match.
Wei Zheng, his cousin Shen Yuzhu, and a few other relatives planned to return to China soon, but in the meantime, his uncles and aunts were staying in the Netherlands. They had bought a house back home and intended to earn money while in Europe before eventually returning.
As they spoke, Wei Zheng voiced his concern over the match. He was slightly disappointed to learn that Yang Yang would still be starting on the bench but understood that, at just 17, he wasn't quite ready for a starting role in such a massive game like the Champions League final.
"Don't worry," Yang Yang assured them, his voice calm but confident. "We'll win for sure."
His words prompted encouragement from everyone on the line. Among the voices was one unfamiliar yet pleasant—an unfamiliar girl's voice, speaking in a gentle, sweet tone, using the polished accent of Beijing. She seemed to be a friend of Wei Zheng's from China, her presence calming and reassuring.
For the Champions League final, each Ajax first-team player had been allocated 25 tickets. Since Yang Yang didn't have many close friends traveling long distances to watch, and with Johnny Rep and the others receiving their tickets through the club, most of Yang Yang's tickets went to his family. Wei Zheng had been a huge help, handling arrangements for Yang Yang's parents, from securing plane tickets to booking hotels, easing the young player's mind as he focused on the game.
After hanging up the phone, Yang Yang felt a warm sense of comfort. He hadn't seen his parents in two years, and this would be the first time they'd watch him play live since he moved to Europe.
More than ever, he was determined not to let them down. For Yang Yang, this wasn't just any match—it was the chance to show his parents how far he'd come. Losing was not an option.
...
...
On the day of the game, Ajax held another tactical meeting after breakfast, this time with a clear focus on set-pieces—both offensive and defensive. Ronald Koeman meticulously went through each player's role, outlining precise movements and positioning for free kicks, ensuring that everyone understood their responsibilities.
After the session, the team headed out for a light recovery training in the nearby park, aiming to stay loose and focused.
The day progressed smoothly: a simple lunch, followed by rest, afternoon tea, and then the much-anticipated departure to the stadium.
As they headed south from the Berg Hotel, the roads became more populated with football fans. The closer they got to Gelsenkirchen, the more Ajax and Porto supporters they encountered. Being just a short distance from the Netherlands, it was no surprise that the Ajax fans far outnumbered those from Porto, creating an electric atmosphere even before the players arrived at the stadium.
Inside the team bus, however, the mood was tense and quiet. Some players had their headphones on, lost in music; others rested their eyes, seeking calm before the storm. A few simply stared out the window, deep in thought. No one spoke—each player fully aware that tonight's match would be the most important of their careers. No one dared let their focus slip.
When the team finally arrived at Schalke's Arena AufSchalke, they were greeted by a sea of Ajax supporters who had gathered to show their support. Their chants echoed as the players disembarked, urging the team to give their all, to add another Champions League trophy to Ajax's illustrious history. The fans' energy was palpable, but the players remained disciplined, heading straight into the tunnel with a single focus: the game.
Inside the dressing room, each player organized their kit and prepared mentally for the challenge ahead. Under the guidance of the coaching staff and UEFA officials, the team soon made their way onto the pitch for the final pre-match warm-up. By now, the stands were already filled with roaring fans, the majority clad in red and white Ajax colors, their enthusiasm filling every corner of the stadium.
As Yang Yang emerged from the tunnel, he was met with the sound of his name being chanted by the Ajax faithful. The chorus of voices all calling out to him made his heart race. He instinctively raised his hand in acknowledgment, which only intensified the cheers and applause, sending a wave of adrenaline through his veins.
Scanning the sea of supporters as he walked towards the pitch, Yang Yang tried to locate his parents and uncles. He knew roughly where their seats were, thanks to the tickets he had arranged for them, but with the mass of fans packed into the stands like ants, it was impossible to pick them out.
Still, he felt their presence, a strong, unshakeable sense that his family was watching him, somewhere in that massive crowd. The thought filled him with an overwhelming sense of pride, fueling his determination.
...
...
"Look, it's Yang Yang!"
"It's really him!"
As soon as Yang Yang emerged from the players' tunnel, his mother, Shen Lifang, couldn't hold back her tears. She hadn't seen her son in two long years, and the moment overwhelmed her.
For the past two years, she had missed him every single day, constantly worrying about his life in the Netherlands. Was he doing well? Was he adapting to life abroad? How was his football career progressing? And, perhaps most of all, was he being treated fairly? These thoughts consumed her, day and night.
Now, seeing him out there in the stadium, wearing the Ajax kit, standing on the brink of playing in a Champions League final, her emotions were a mix of pride and an unfamiliar sense of distance. Something about him felt different, and she couldn't quite grasp it.
"He looks bigger... a bit stockier," Yang Yang's father, Yang Yongqiang, remarked, his eyes red as he fought back his own emotions, his voice cracking slightly.
"Uncle Yang, he's not fat, he's built muscle," Wei Zheng corrected with a warm smile. "He's a professional footballer now, with a strict diet and training regime. His physique is more developed than before. He's stronger, but still lean. He needs to build even more strength for the level he's playing at, but he's definitely not fat."
"Yes, yes, you're right—muscle, not fat," Yang Yongqiang quickly agreed, his expression brightening.
As Yang Yang stepped out onto the pitch, he instinctively turned toward the stands, scanning the sea of fans, searching for his family. Seeing this, his cousin Shen Yuzhu immediately jumped to her feet, waving her arms wildly and shouting at the top of her lungs.
"Yang Yang! Over here! Uncle and Aunt are here, can you see us?"
But the stadium was packed, the noise from the roaring fans deafening. Her voice was swallowed by the excitement of the crowd, and with so many faces in the stands, it was nearly impossible for Yang Yang to spot his family amidst the sea of supporters.
With a quick glance around and no luck finding them, he smiled to himself and ran onto the pitch, greeted by the cheers of his teammates. Despite not being able to see his parents, Yang Yang knew they were out there, watching with pride. That thought alone was enough to give him the extra boost he needed for the night ahead.
...
...
The Arena AufSchalke, with its capacity of more than 50,000, is similar in size to the Amsterdam Arena. Yet, for some reason, as Yang Yang warmed up on the field, something felt different. He couldn't quite shake a sense of unease. His body felt sluggish, and despite the magnitude of the occasion, he found it difficult to get excited.
Yang Yang knew exactly what it was—*the pressure of the Champions League final*. It weighed on him like never before.
Ever since he had broken into Ajax's first team, he had felt pressure in almost every match. He remembered coming off the bench in the dying moments against Bruges, then again against Eindhoven, and later in the bigger stages against Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Monaco. Each time, he'd had to fight through nerves and uncertainty. But tonight, the weight of expectation was greater than any he had felt before.
Still, Yang Yang understood pressure. He knew it well. And more importantly, he knew he could handle it.
After the warm-up, the team returned to the dressing room. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the kind of silence that only comes before a game of this magnitude. No one spoke. Even Zlatan Ibrahimović, who usually buzzed with nervous energy in the lead-up to matches, sat quietly at his locker. His face was serious, his chest rising and falling with slow, measured breaths, as if each one helped steady his inner emotions.
When Ronald Koeman entered the room, he too remained silent, mirroring the mood of the players. At this stage, there wasn't much more he could do. He couldn't subdue the nerves of his players, nor could he magically remove the tension that came with the importance of the night. This was football—the bigger the game, the greater the pressure. And in professional football, the only way to deal with it was to confront it head-on and overcome it.
Earlier that morning, Koeman had spoken with each of his players individually. He had paid special attention to Victor Sikora, who had recently returned to the squad. Koeman had been honest with him, knowing Sikora's future at the club was uncertain. He wished Sikora a strong performance in the final, whether it would be his last appearance for Ajax or not.
As for Yang Yang, everyone at the club understood his immense potential. He was Ajax's future, but it wasn't his time to carry the team just yet. For this final, he would continue in his role as a substitute. Technical director Louis van Gaal had even remarked that Yang Yang's impact would be most potent off the bench, where his speed and creativity could counter the opposition's late-game fatigue.
The real test of the night, however, would come at the back. Johnny Heitinga, known for his aggressive style, and Julien Escudé, who was steadier but less assertive, would need to stand strong. Ajax's traditional 4-3-3 formation often left them vulnerable, particularly when defending transitions. At some point, Koeman would likely need two defenders to maintain stability.
In the absence of Tomáš Galásek, De Jong was filling in as the team's holding midfielder, a role Koeman was particularly worried about. De Jong was prone to picking up yellow cards with his aggressive tackling, and a booking could spell trouble for Ajax's defensive shape. On the other hand, Koeman was less concerned about Ajax's attack. With creative midfielders like Van der Vaart and Sneijder pulling the strings, and Ibrahimović leading the line, the offense was their greatest strength.
As the minutes ticked away, the dressing room slowly settled. The anticipation seemed to calm the players, their nerves tempered by the realization of what lay ahead.
Finally, Ronald Koeman took a deep breath and stood up, breaking the silence. "Okay, everyone," he began.
The players stood to attention.
"I won't give you a long speech. We've done all the preparation, and we know what needs to be done."
The players nodded in agreement, focused.
"Tonight might be the biggest game of your career up to this point," Koeman continued, his voice steady. "But I want you to understand something. The moment you step out onto that pitch, you've already become a legend of this club."
Those words hit home, and the players lifted their heads, shoulders square, standing taller, with pride swelling in their chests.
"So don't let the pressure hold you back. Go out there, enjoy every moment, and give everything you have. Leave it all on the pitch, and have no regrets—that's all I ask."
Koeman then moved around the room, embracing each of his players one by one, sharing a moment with each of them before they stepped out into the biggest game of their lives.