After seven rounds of the Eredivisie, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord were tied at the top of the standings, both with 19 points, occupying the first and second places, respectively. Utrecht followed closely with 15 points, while AZ Alkmaar sat in fourth with 12 points, and Vitesse rounded out the top five with 11 points.
A cluster of six teams, including RKC Waalwijk, Nijmegen, Roda JC, Heerenveen, Willem II, and NAC Breda, all sat just behind with 10 points.
In contrast, Ajax had managed to accumulate only nine points from seven matches, leaving them in a disappointing 12th place.
The situation was compounded by their struggles in the UEFA Champions League, where they had lost their first two group stage matches. With poor results both domestically and in Europe, Ajax found themselves in a bleak position, and the media in the Netherlands were quick to criticize the team's performances. Even Ajax's loyal fans were growing restless, blaming Ronald Koeman for losing the aggressive edge that had previously defined Ajax's play.
However, Louis van Gaal had a more measured take on the situation.
"Of course, part of the team's sluggish performance comes from internal issues," Van Gaal explained. "They sold five core players in the summer, and it's difficult for the newly introduced players to immediately match the level of competitiveness we saw last season. Naturally, this weakens the team."
Van Gaal then pointed to Ajax's unfavorable schedule as another factor.
"For example, Heerenveen has always been a tricky opponent for Ajax, and losing 2-3 away to Feyenoord is not a disaster. As for playing Alkmaar away..."
Though Van Gaal left the thought unfinished, it was clear that everyone knew AZ Alkmaar were no pushovers. Under the guidance of Co Adriaanse, Alkmaar had already proven to be a formidable force in Dutch football, and after Van Gaal took over, his adjustments had created further turbulence within the team. This was reflected in their earlier 0-5 loss to PSV Eindhoven, though it also highlighted PSV's sheer strength.
"In these matches, the only truly regrettable loss of points was in the second half against ADO Den Haag. But that was during the international break, which undoubtedly had an effect on the team. While it was disappointing, it wasn't entirely unexpected."
Van Gaal's analysis of Ajax's current struggles provided a clearer perspective. Although the club was facing significant issues, the situation wasn't quite as dire as the standings suggested. Ajax had endured tough fixtures, transitions, and challenges beyond their control.
"The two-game losing streak in the Champions League is simply down to a tough draw," Van Gaal explained. "Even though Ajax are the defending champions, they were placed in the third pot and drawn against Juventus and Bayern Munich. It's hardly surprising they're struggling. Losing 1-0 at home to Juventus isn't terrible, and the 4-0 defeat away to Bayern, while harsh, reflects the gap in quality on the day."
As Van Gaal spoke, Ronald Koeman nodded. "The players were under immense pressure," he added. "We tried to chase the game after Roy Makaay scored those goals, which left our already weakened defense even more vulnerable."
"I watched that game as well," Van Gaal replied. "Makaay was in fantastic form. A hat trick and an assist—his performance fully exposed our defensive frailties, especially against a powerful center forward like him."
Makaay, standing at 1.8 meters, exemplified the typical Dutch striker—strong, clinical, and difficult to defend against. Ajax, meanwhile, had always prided themselves on ball-playing center-backs, such as Heitinga and Vermaelen, who excelled with their feet but were vulnerable in physical battles. Vlaar, being younger, struggled to handle a player of Makaay's caliber during the game.
"This is the cost of relying on youth," Van Gaal sighed.
Koeman agreed, feeling the weight of responsibility as head coach. "Looking at how things have unfolded, I deeply regret allowing Yang Yang to return to China for the Asian Youth Championship," he admitted. "There's no real developmental value in him playing that tournament, and if I'd pushed harder, we might have been able to negotiate with the Chinese Football Association to keep him here."
Koeman shook his head, reflecting on the missed opportunity. "At the time, I thought we had started well and could manage without him. But I didn't expect things to unravel like this."
It's easy for players and staff to overlook someone's importance while they're still with the team. But once they're gone, the gap becomes glaringly obvious.
Van Gaal nodded, adding, "In a team, there are always players whose value is instantly clear, and others who quietly do their work, seeming replaceable. But once you lose them, you realize they were the most irreplaceable of all."
Yang Yang's stats from the first three rounds were solid, but the team's inconsistent form masked his true impact. Now, without him, the void was undeniable. With Yang Yang in the lineup, Ajax had earned seven points from the first three rounds, keeping pace with PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord. However, since Yang Yang left for the Asian Youth Championship, Ajax had only managed to scrape together two points in the subsequent four matches. In the meantime, both PSV and Feyenoord had continued their winning streaks, with Feyenoord delivering a crucial home victory over Ajax.
Van Gaal sighed again, "The immediate priority now is to relieve the pressure on the team. The upcoming two-week international break is a lifeline—it will give the squad a chance to reset and refocus."
In two weeks, Yang Yang would return, a much-needed boost for Ajax.
Interestingly, the four "dark horse" teams that reached the Champions League semi-finals last season were all struggling this year. The best-performing team, Monaco, was sitting in third place in Ligue 1, just two points behind Lille and Lyon. Didier Deschamps' squad had remained relatively intact, which explained their consistent form.
Porto, meanwhile, were third in the Primeira Liga, four points behind Benfica—a disappointing position for a club long regarded as the dominant force in Portugal.
Deportivo La Coruña was facing similar challenges to Ajax. After six rounds of La Liga, they were in 11th place, having collected just eight points. Unlike Ajax, however, Deportivo hadn't lost any key players over the summer and had even made several signings, which raised questions about Javier Irureta's management.
Of all the Champions League semi-finalists from last season, Ajax had suffered the most severe downturn. Having lost five key players over the summer, they were now struggling to rebuild, and the results showed.
"The key now," Van Gaal emphasized, "is to stabilize the team's lineup and re-establish a backbone."
Koeman was all too aware of this challenge. Building a cohesive core wasn't something that could be forced by the coach alone; it required players who not only excelled on the field but commanded respect in the locker room.
It was similar to choosing a captain. No matter how skilled a player might be, if the squad didn't listen to them, the armband was meaningless.
Ajax were in a difficult transition period, caught between the old guard and the new. Ibrahimović and Van der Vaart had left, but no clear leaders had emerged to replace them. Heitinga had the ability but lacked maturity, while Nigel de Jong, despite his bravery and leadership qualities, wasn't suited to being the team's central figure. Sneijder, with his technical skill and talent, was the most promising candidate, but his quiet demeanor and lack of aggression made it difficult for him to take on the leadership role fully.
Steven Pienaar, though talented, played a softer game. Wesley Sonck was inconsistent, and while Maxwell had a good rapport with teammates, his laid-back attitude prevented him from stepping into a leadership position.
In the end, Koeman had handed the captain's armband to Tomáš Galásek, a veteran who was struggling to maintain his spot in the starting lineup. With De Jong on the rise, Galásek's appearances were becoming increasingly limited.
The coaching staff had also considered Yang Yang. His performances in the first three rounds and the UEFA Super Cup were outstanding. Although he was usually quiet, Yang Yang's work ethic and determination made him a natural leader through his actions. But there was a significant hurdle—he wasn't a product of Ajax's youth system and had only been with the team for a year and a half. Additionally, he was still young, turning 18 at the end of October. Could such a young player command respect in the dressing room?
Van Gaal understood Koeman's dilemma. As Ajax's head coach, Koeman had to confront these challenges head-on and find solutions.
A team without a true leader or core struggles to overcome adversity. This holds true for individual matches, entire seasons, and even a club's trajectory.
...
...
When news of Ajax's goalless draw with Alkmaar reached China, Arie Haan, the head coach of the Chinese national team, had just returned to Beijing and made his way to the headquarters of the Chinese Football Association.
Downstairs, facing a crowd of eager reporters who had been waiting for his arrival, Haan did not shy away from addressing the growing tension between him and the Chinese coaching staff.
"I know that many people believe I should respect the opinions of the local coaching staff," Haan began, his voice calm but firm. "But the real question is, when there's a disagreement, whose opinion should take precedence?"
"I'm the head coach of the national team. If the Football Association wanted to listen to them, why didn't they hire them to be the head coach?"
Haan went on to explain that these conflicts were merely tactical and philosophical differences, not as serious or conspiratorial as some media outlets had made them out to be. Despite the disagreements, he insisted that the coaching staff were still in communication and working together. He criticized the media for exaggerating the situation and creating unnecessary drama.
"Before a crucial match, some so-called 'authoritative' media outlets fabricated a story about seven of our national team players going out for a 'tooth festival,' which led to false rumors about collective food poisoning and incited unnecessary public outrage. This kind of misinformation seriously undermines the unity within the team and our preparations. You report on rumors, claiming someone said this or that, but unless I hear it with my own ears, I don't believe it."
Looking ahead to the upcoming match against Kuwait, Haan was resolute in his determination.
"We need an away win to ensure our qualification for the final round of World Cup qualifiers. That's why I'm here today—to set the record straight."
At this point, Haan's expression grew more serious. With a firm tone, he declared, "We need Yang Yang!"