A momentous occasion for Ajax in the Champions League semifinal

They weren’t supposed to get this far. Now Ajax have a chance to make a European final for the first time since 1996.

No one thought Ajax would make it this far in the Champions League. Not when they drew Bayern Munich in the group stage, not even when they beat Real Madrid in the round of 16. It wasn’t until they knocked out Juventus that people seemed to seriously consider the possibility Ajax could be in a Champions League final.

In 2018, Ajax were only really known for two rising stars, Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong. The two received plenty of plaudits for group stage performances and were already touted as stars.

Qualifying for the knockout stage was just a feather in their caps, a nice send off for two players who were destined for greatness elsewhere.

The teenage captain, de Ligt, and fellow teenage phenom, de Jong, were already getting poached by bigger clubs and speaking about their futures elsewhere. It was confirmed in January that de Jong would join Barcelona for the following season, with de Ligt rumored likely to follow.

Ajax’s star has dwindled over the past 25 years. Even within their own league it hasn’t been easy – Ajax last won the league in 2014. In recent years, they’ve taken up the role of feeder club.

The pipeline is one of the most impressive in the world. Not many clubs can sell off as many stars as Ajax have, only to have another academy prospect ready to take up the reigns once again.

Current Ajax alumni include Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Justin Kluivert (AS Roma), Ryan Babel (Fulham), Quincy Promes (Sevilla), and many more throughout the years. Some find exceptional success upon leaving, others fall into mediocrity.

Some of the most accomplished alumni have signed with Ajax’s semifinal opponent, Tottenham.

Christian Erikisen, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, and Davinson Sanchez all used to play in the Netherlands with Ajax, and now face up against their former club.

Those four probably never expected to face their former club at this stage of the competition. They won’t be happy to knock out the club that kick-started their career, and likely know it won’t be easy either.

For Tottenham this is also a historic match, as it’s been 57 years since the London club reached the semifinals of the elite European competition.

This is even more impressive when you consider the path both teams have taken to get here. Ajax had to get past Juventus and Real Madrid, two of the tournament favorites. Tottenham, on the other hand, have faced elimination twice, and both times were saved by outside factors.

The first, when PSV drew Inter Milan at the San Siro, while Tottenham drew with Barcelona at Camp Nou.

The second when Manchester City thought they had won late in the quarterfinal, but a correct VAR decision overturned the goal. Those last few minutes turned from heartbreak to euphoria when the players realized what had happened. Moussa Sissoko had left the pitch due to an injury, and didn’t even know about the reversed decision until someone went go tell him.

Tottenham, despite not signing any players in the past two transfer windows, have done something that Ajax cannot, hold onto their star players.

Spurs have built to this point over several years, and still have held onto Eriksen, Harry Kane and Alderweireld despite constant rumors of the trio leaving.

Ajax’s squad, meanwhile, is likely to look very different next season. De Ligt has only been on the first team since the beginning of last season, when he took over in the absence of Sanchez’s move to Tottenham, and earned his captaincy just this season.

Dusan Tadic, Daley Blind and Nicolas Tagliafico  joined in summer of 2018. Hakim Ziyech, David Neres, Frenkie De Jong, and Andre Onana joined in 2016, Donny van de Beek in 2015. Lass Schone and Joel Veltmen are the longest serving members, having joined Ajax in 2012.

Ajax’s role in the European pipeline has made it hard to attract and keep talent. The departure of de Jong and (possibly) de Ligt will eventually be plugged by another up-and-coming young talent, but players like De Jong and De Ligt don’t come around often.

It wasn’t as if Ajax got away with lucky draws either. In the round of 16, they matched up against back-to-back-to-back Champions League winners, Real Madrid, and then against Juventus in the quarterfinals.

Both European giants were heavy favorites, especially after leaving Amsterdam Arena with a result.

But in both ties, Ajax did what most clubs are usually afraid to do, and push the game to the home team. They didn’t sit back and accept their fate.

Against Real Madrid, Ajax pushed high up the field, just as they did at home, and won the ball in advanced positions. The 2-1 home loss was completely forgotten as the Dutch side walked out of the Bernabeu with a massive 4-1 victory.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/03/05/real-madrid-ajax-champions-league-goal-video-highlights

Just looking at the two teams and the score, that victory could be seen as a fluke (it wasn’t). Some fans thought Ajax had some tough calls go against them in the first leg, and in truth VAR saved Real Madrid on more than one occasion.

The second leg was a masterclass on how to disrupt opposing midfielders and make even the best players in the world uncomfortable on the ball. It may have helped that Sergio Ramos was suspended in the second leg for yellow card accumulation — and on a meaningless, stupid foul at the end of the first leg.

When Ajax drew Juventus, they once again weren’t given much of a chance. The mighty Cristiano Ronaldo just scored a hat-trick against former rival Atletico Madrid, and would surely do the same against a perceived lesser opponent.

Ronaldo did score at Amsterdam Arena, giving Juve a 1-1 draw to take to Alianz Stadium.

Unlike going to play a struggling Real side, Juventus are a team that pride themselves on the ability to see out results.

Ronaldo once again scored to give Juventus the lead, but a goal from van de Beek canceled it out quickly enough.

In the end it was a set-piece, the unlikeliest of ways for Juventus to concede, scored by De Ligt that set Ajax onto this match with a 2-1 win in Turin.

With the two previous favorites out of they way, Ajax are no longer the underestimated underdog.

The 2019 Champions League final will be special, because either Tottenham or Ajax will be making an appearance.

While Tottenham should be facing an era of similar success, this is perhaps the last chance for this Ajax squad. Top European clubs will be stalking after Ajax’s best players, and like most underdogs before them in the soccer world, will have to reset and build again.

Enjoy watching Ajax while you can. Their high-octane, no-holding-back style of play is not just getting results but also enjoyable to watch.