How far have Ajax transformed their expectations? Tonight they won a Champions League semi-final 1-0 away from home, against a team richer than they are, and it still felt like a job half done, or a night when they showed most of what they can do, but not all of it.
In the end this was not a repeat of the 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu or the 2-1 in Turin, the away wins that marked this team out as the most important of their generation. Spurs’ resilience saw to that. But it was still a hugely significant win in Ajax’s biggest game since 1996. They still have one foot in the final in Madrid on 1 June.
And Ajax fully deserved it. This time there was no thrilling second-half accelerator, unlike in Madrid or Turin. But there was an authoritative first-half display in which Ajax seized control of the ball and barely let Spurs touch it. It was modern football true to Johan Cruyff’s old values: being courageous and dominating the game. Never mind the opponent. Never mind the location. Never mind the stage.
Try as they did in the second half, Spurs had nothing to match the quality of this phase of Ajax play. No-one else in Europe has been able to match them this season when they are in this mood. Incisive pass and move, runners off the ball, players bombing forward trusting their team-mates to cover. It is the football we are only used to seeing the very richest teams in this competition try. But Ajax have mastered it on a fraction of the big boys’ budgets..
There was nothing complex about Ajax’s goal but it still left Tottenham standing around bemused, as if their own penalty box was an escape room they had no idea where to start with. Hakim Ziyech swept a pass out onto the left and ran forward into the box. David Neres stayed wide, ran down the line, and passed back to Lasse Schone. He rolled the ball on to Ziyech, totally unmarked, and he slipped a pass through to Donny van de Beek, whose clever little run had been missed by everyone else.
1/23 Player ratings: Spurs vs Ajax
We run the rule over the two teams after a tough night for Tottenham.
AFP
2/23 Hugo Lloris − 6
Was left utterly helpless for Ajax’s first goal, with his defence akimbo and Donny van de Beek breathing down his neck. Made a very smart stop to deny the same player just moments later.
Getty Images
3/23 Toby Alderweireld − 6
Struggled in the very early stages, as did every player in white. But improved after Jan Vertonghen’s nasty head injury, which forced Spurs to switch to playing four at the back.
REUTERS
4/23 Davinson Sanchez − 6
Like Toby Alderweireld, improved immeasurably after the tactical switch. Was kept busy in a nervy first-half, although did do very well to twice catch up with threatening Ajax counter-attacks.
Getty
5/23 Jan Vertonghen − 6
Bravely attempted to battle on after a nasty clash of heads with team-mate Toby Alderweireld left him looking like a considerably better groomed Terry Butcher. Wisely substituted himself and appeared to be in danger of collapsing on the touchline, although fortunately made a recovery in the Tottenham dressing room.
Getty Images
6/23 Kieran Trippier − 5
Tottenham’s three at the back system was designed to protect Kieran Trippier’s flaws, but he made an inauspicious start to this match, playing Donny van de Beek onside for Ajax’s opener. Didn’t get much better and overhit a number of passes in the second-half, which resulted in a chorus of groans.
Man City via Getty Images
7/23 Victor Wanyama − 5
What a player he was before his knee unfortunately crumbled to dust at the start of last season. In fairness he began to get a grip on the game after a painfully shaky start, but he remains a weakness.
Getty
8/23 Christian Eriksen − 6
A difficult night for the Dane, who was often caught in two minds over whether to remain alongside Victor Wanyama in Tottenham’s midfield or glide forward. Did get much better in the second-half, although he is capable of much, much more. Spurs will need him to step up in Amsterdam.
Getty Images
9/23 Dele − 6
Has been running on empty for at least a fortnight now. Like the vast majority of Tottenham’s players, improved after the tactical switch and had a good chance to equalise at the start of the second-half, instead wastefully heading over the bar. He deserves some time off, to be frank.
Getty Images
10/23 Danny Rose − 5
He just cannot resist diving in, can he? Woefully disorganised in the opening exchanges and could have been sent off for petulantly lashing out at Joel Veltman. Bombed forward well but not his greatest night.
Getty Images
11/23 Lucas Moura − 5
Barely noticed he was playing. Kept exceptionally quiet by Ajax’s kindergarteners at the back.
Getty
12/23 Fernando Llorente − 5
In many ways, the quintessential Fernando Llorente performance. Ugly, gutsy, clumsy, ever so slightly amusing and not especially that effective: tried hard but spurned one of Tottenham’s best chances when he headed wide under little pressure in the first-half.
AFP
13/23 Andre Onan − 6
Didn’t have an awful lot to do. Difficult to think of what to write really, so here are some stats: 2 clearances, 16 passes, 15 of which were long balls. Interesting! Also did his fair share of time-wasting, the rotter.
REUTERS
14/23 Joel Veltman − 6
Spent much of this match in a petty two-man war with Danny Rose. When he wasn’t pulling the full-back’s shirt or himself being dragged back he was effective going forward, combining nicely with the standout Donny van de Beek.
Getty Images
15/23 Daley Blind − 7
The veteran Dutchman enjoyed a successful return to England. Marking Fernando Llorente isn’t an especially onerous task but he did it well enough, and his pace helped him keep Lucas Moura equally quiet on the rare occasions Spurs were able to counter-attack.
AFP/Getty Images
16/23 Matthijs de Ligt − 7
Matthjis de Ligt is nineteen. Nineteen! The youngest ever player to captain his team in a Champions League semi-final was suitably composed this evening, keeping Fernando Llorente quiet and impressing with his silky smooth passing range.
AFP/Getty Images
17/23 Nicolas Tagliafico − 6
Booked for rashly diving in on Christian Eriksen when the rest of Ajax’s defence were well positioned. Solid apart from that.
Getty
18/23 Lasse Schone − 7
A wonderfully workmanlike performance in the middle of the two child geniuses either side of him. Three tackles. One clearance. One interception. He is the oil which keeps this impossibly slick Ajax team running so very smoothly.
REUTERS
19/23 Frenkie De Jong − 8
Hard to believe he is just 21-years-old, when he plays with all the languid composure of Xavi winding down his career at Al Saad in the Qatar Stars League. Everything comes so naturally to him. Had a field day against the statuesque Victor Wanyama: no player completed more passes.
Getty Images
20/23 Hakim Ziyech − 8
To describe his defence-bisecting through ball as merely an ‘assist’ does it a disservice. In reality it was as effective and aesthetically pleasing as a goal, putting it on a plate for Donny van de Beek to open the scoring.
Getty Images
21/23 Donny van de Beek − 8
Took his goal wonderfully well, holding the line and then waiting nervelessly for Hugo Lloris to make his move. Almost doubled Ajax’s advantage just a few moments later.
Action Images via Reuters
22/23 David Neres − 6
Gave Kieran Trippier a thoroughly uncomfortable evening, pinning the Englishman back for long periods and thoroughly ruining Mauricio Pochettino’s three at the back gameplan.
Getty Images
23/23 Dusan Tadic − 7
What on earth have Ajax done with the inconsistent maverick that so frustrated Southampton supporters for four seasons? Played his part in the opening goal and was an entertainingly buzzy presence throughout.
UEFA via Getty Images
1/23 Player ratings: Spurs vs Ajax
We run the rule over the two teams after a tough night for Tottenham.
AFP
2/23 Hugo Lloris − 6
Was left utterly helpless for Ajax’s first goal, with his defence akimbo and Donny van de Beek breathing down his neck. Made a very smart stop to deny the same player just moments later.
Getty Images
3/23 Toby Alderweireld − 6
Struggled in the very early stages, as did every player in white. But improved after Jan Vertonghen’s nasty head injury, which forced Spurs to switch to playing four at the back.
REUTERS
4/23 Davinson Sanchez − 6
Like Toby Alderweireld, improved immeasurably after the tactical switch. Was kept busy in a nervy first-half, although did do very well to twice catch up with threatening Ajax counter-attacks.
Getty
5/23 Jan Vertonghen − 6
Bravely attempted to battle on after a nasty clash of heads with team-mate Toby Alderweireld left him looking like a considerably better groomed Terry Butcher. Wisely substituted himself and appeared to be in danger of collapsing on the touchline, although fortunately made a recovery in the Tottenham dressing room.
Getty Images
6/23 Kieran Trippier − 5
Tottenham’s three at the back system was designed to protect Kieran Trippier’s flaws, but he made an inauspicious start to this match, playing Donny van de Beek onside for Ajax’s opener. Didn’t get much better and overhit a number of passes in the second-half, which resulted in a chorus of groans.
Man City via Getty Images
7/23 Victor Wanyama − 5
What a player he was before his knee unfortunately crumbled to dust at the start of last season. In fairness he began to get a grip on the game after a painfully shaky start, but he remains a weakness.
Getty
8/23 Christian Eriksen − 6
A difficult night for the Dane, who was often caught in two minds over whether to remain alongside Victor Wanyama in Tottenham’s midfield or glide forward. Did get much better in the second-half, although he is capable of much, much more. Spurs will need him to step up in Amsterdam.
Getty Images
9/23 Dele − 6
Has been running on empty for at least a fortnight now. Like the vast majority of Tottenham’s players, improved after the tactical switch and had a good chance to equalise at the start of the second-half, instead wastefully heading over the bar. He deserves some time off, to be frank.
Getty Images
10/23 Danny Rose − 5
He just cannot resist diving in, can he? Woefully disorganised in the opening exchanges and could have been sent off for petulantly lashing out at Joel Veltman. Bombed forward well but not his greatest night.
Getty Images
11/23 Lucas Moura − 5
Barely noticed he was playing. Kept exceptionally quiet by Ajax’s kindergarteners at the back.
Getty
12/23 Fernando Llorente − 5
In many ways, the quintessential Fernando Llorente performance. Ugly, gutsy, clumsy, ever so slightly amusing and not especially that effective: tried hard but spurned one of Tottenham’s best chances when he headed wide under little pressure in the first-half.
AFP
13/23 Andre Onan − 6
Didn’t have an awful lot to do. Difficult to think of what to write really, so here are some stats: 2 clearances, 16 passes, 15 of which were long balls. Interesting! Also did his fair share of time-wasting, the rotter.
REUTERS
14/23 Joel Veltman − 6
Spent much of this match in a petty two-man war with Danny Rose. When he wasn’t pulling the full-back’s shirt or himself being dragged back he was effective going forward, combining nicely with the standout Donny van de Beek.
Getty Images
15/23 Daley Blind − 7
The veteran Dutchman enjoyed a successful return to England. Marking Fernando Llorente isn’t an especially onerous task but he did it well enough, and his pace helped him keep Lucas Moura equally quiet on the rare occasions Spurs were able to counter-attack.
AFP/Getty Images
16/23 Matthijs de Ligt − 7
Matthjis de Ligt is nineteen. Nineteen! The youngest ever player to captain his team in a Champions League semi-final was suitably composed this evening, keeping Fernando Llorente quiet and impressing with his silky smooth passing range.
AFP/Getty Images
17/23 Nicolas Tagliafico − 6
Booked for rashly diving in on Christian Eriksen when the rest of Ajax’s defence were well positioned. Solid apart from that.
Getty
18/23 Lasse Schone − 7
A wonderfully workmanlike performance in the middle of the two child geniuses either side of him. Three tackles. One clearance. One interception. He is the oil which keeps this impossibly slick Ajax team running so very smoothly.
REUTERS
19/23 Frenkie De Jong − 8
Hard to believe he is just 21-years-old, when he plays with all the languid composure of Xavi winding down his career at Al Saad in the Qatar Stars League. Everything comes so naturally to him. Had a field day against the statuesque Victor Wanyama: no player completed more passes.
Getty Images
20/23 Hakim Ziyech − 8
To describe his defence-bisecting through ball as merely an ‘assist’ does it a disservice. In reality it was as effective and aesthetically pleasing as a goal, putting it on a plate for Donny van de Beek to open the scoring.
Getty Images
21/23 Donny van de Beek − 8
Took his goal wonderfully well, holding the line and then waiting nervelessly for Hugo Lloris to make his move. Almost doubled Ajax’s advantage just a few moments later.
Action Images via Reuters
22/23 David Neres − 6
Gave Kieran Trippier a thoroughly uncomfortable evening, pinning the Englishman back for long periods and thoroughly ruining Mauricio Pochettino’s three at the back gameplan.
Getty Images
23/23 Dusan Tadic − 7
What on earth have Ajax done with the inconsistent maverick that so frustrated Southampton supporters for four seasons? Played his part in the opening goal and was an entertainingly buzzy presence throughout.
UEFA via Getty Images
Van de Beek had so much time he could dummy two shots before beating Hugo Lloris. “People sometimes make football incredibly complicated”, as Johan Cruyff once said. “But it works best when we keep it simple”.
The frustration for Ajax is that they did not make the most of their dominance at this point. Nerves was getting in behind every time and they should have scored a second with the sharpest move of the night: Van de Beek stepped over Nicolas Tagliafico’s pass to Dusan Tadic and peeled away, took the return pass but this time shot at Lloris. It felt briefly as if the tie might finish tonight.
Looking back this was the moment when the game was there to be killed off for Ajax, when Spurs were still trying to come to terms with their intelligent movement. The forced withdrawal of Jan Vertonghen for Moussa Sissoko helped to disrupt Ajax’s flow. Spurs finally had a man to cut them off at source. It made for a far more even second half, Spurs belatedly finding the energy that they needed from the start. But Ajax defended better than some would have expected, and even then they had the best chance, Neres hitting the post late on from Dusan Tadic’s pass.
That would have been a 2-0 win to nullify the second leg. But this 1-0 win means that Ajax still have a job to complete next Wednesday, against a stronger Spurs side back in Amsterdam. But there is no question that they are now big favourites to be in the Madrid final, ready to complete their history act.
Why does all this matter? Because for years we believed that the only way an underdog could succeed in football was by killing the game. Defend deep. Slow it down. Attack on the break. Nick a set piece. As if open football was a luxury reserved for the rich. And closed football was the only defence for the poor.
This was a perfect legitimate thing to think. Greece won Euro 2004 with unprecedented tactical negativity. Atletico Madrid turned economics upside down to win a Spanish title and reach two Champions League finals by rejecting possession but fighting over every dead ball. Leicester City, England’s closest equivalent, won the Premier League playing kick and rush. It just felt like the consequence of economics: only if you had money could you afford to have the ball.
But Ajax have changed all that. Yes they are a historic club but they are financial minnows. And yet they have done what we all thought was impossible: played overdog football on an underdog budget, and won and won and won. Their annual wage bill of £43million is 12 per cent of Real Madrid’s, but they went to the Bernabeu and won 4-1. It is 18 per cent of Juventus’, but they went there and won 2-1 two weeks ago. And it is one third of Spurs’, but they won here too.
