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There was something uplifting about Ajax’s win over Barcelona. It rekindled memories of when the Amsterdammers were a force in Europe captivating their opponents and audience with spellbinding football. “Outstanding, the Ajax school is very much alive,” El Mundo Deportivo wrote. “We beat Barcelona with the same philosophy that both teams share,” manager Frank de Boer enthused.
A match that was won on the playing fields of De Toekomst, the club’s fabled academy, seven graduates were used by De Boer; his side’s average age (22.7) was in contrast to Barça (28.3), who began with six World Cup winners.
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Attention now turns to San Siro where De Boer began his managerial career 3 years ago with an historic victory over AC Milan. If lightning is to strike twice – three points this time around will see them progress to the last sixteen of the Champions League for the first time since 2005/06 – a repeat of the intense collective performance they showed against Barça is required. Three home-grown players in particular will have pivotal roles.
Stefano Denswil
Barring an injury or mishap, Stefano Denswil will start alongside Niklas Moisander in central defence. He played the final 39 minutes against Barça after Joël Veltman (now suspended) received his marching orders for bringing down Neymar. Spanish daily AS described Ajax’s subsequent rearguard action, which 20-year-old Denswil was at the centre of, displaying leadership and maturity beyond his years, as “a lesson in courage”.
He’s been a revelation in Amsterdam this season (along with Veltman). A threat from set-pieces; his goal, from a corner, was moments away from being the winner at home to Milan in October.
Growing up, many dubbed him the strongest defensive talent produced since Frank de Boer; cut from the same cloth, Denswil is a typical Dutch ball-playing centre-half, his passing average (61.4) in the Champions League is highest of any Ajax player. Jaap Stam’s addition to Ajax’s coaching staff this summer has been felt. “He’s teaching us to be merciless when you’re face to face with a centre forward.” In just 5 appearances so far in Europe he’s made 10 tackles and 5 interceptions.
“As a defender, you need to show that you’re there.” He will need to when facing Mario Balotelli, with the Amsterdammers still smarting from their previous meeting. His last minute theatrics led to a controversial penalty, which he converted to earn Milan a point. “The result leaves a very sour taste,” De Boer lamented. It was a reminder you need total concentration when facing a team of Milan’s calibre as there is no room for error.
Daley Blind
Before the appointment of De Boer it seemed Daley Blind, son of club legend Danny (who captained Ajax to European Cup glory in 1995), was heading towards the exit. Fast-forward three years and he is now one of the first names on the team sheet. De Boer’s unyielding faith, was built on seeing the potential which he is now fulfilling.
His consistent performances throughout last season earned him the club’s player of the year award and a first Oranje call-up. He’s been ever-present at left-back since debuting in February, “first choice” according to Louis van Gaal. However Blind has recently transitioned into a midfielder. In truth, as Van Gaal pointed out, the controller – sitting in front of the defence – is his natural position. It’s a testament to his versatility that he’s become an accomplished left-back.
The controller is arguably the most important position in De Boer’s system. Blind, in the role, is essentially a ‘third centre-back’ – dropping between the central defenders – and conductor rolled into one. He is tasked with retaining and recycling possession: averaging 59.4 passes, 3.4 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game in the Champions League so far.
Team Focus: Homegrown Talent Key to Ajax’s Chances in Milan
Blind’s movement triggers their positional game; Ajax in possession morph into a 2-3-2-3, one-touch combination football is second nature to them. In the Champions League their pass accuracy (84%) is ranked eleventh and average possession (53.5%) is eighth highest.
Nicolai Boilesen’s injury should have forced De Boer’s hand, seeing as Blind is the only recognised left-back available, but such is his growing stature De Boer has been reluctant to move him back. Lerin Duarte, central midfielder by trade, and Ruben Ligeon, nominally a right-back, have started there in Ajax’s last two league games.
It remains to be seen where Blind is deployed in Milan though De Boer strongly hinted at a midfield berth with Ligeon at left-back. Nonetheless, as one of Ajax’s ‘technical leaders’, he’ll be influential wherever fielded. If Blind can replicate the level he reached a fortnight ago, Ajax’s chances of beating the odds increase.
Davy Klaassen
For an Ajax midfielder praise from Johan Cruyff is equivalent to being touched by the hand of god. In his analysis of Ajax’s win over Barça, which he attended, he reserved special mention for Davy Klaassen. “He played with tremendous intellect.”
Klaassen symbolises the restoration of intelligence in Ajax’s game. Under the auspices of De Boer it’s not technique, or lack thereof, that has underdone them in Europe, but their mindset. It’s understandable given their relative youthfulness and inexperience at the highest level.
However it’s a process that can be accelerated; the challenge in these European games is to overcome a sense of inferiority. “The coach believes it when he says we shouldn’t be afraid of anyone,” Klaassen told Voetbal International. “That confidence spills over into the group. I stood in the tunnel, looked at the Barcelona players and thought: ‘bring it on’. When the game finished, I literally thought: ‘this is not normal’. We felt mighty.”
Their performance against Barça is an example of what’s possible. De Boer doesn’t have a seasoned squad but clear and concise instructions with a strong emphasis on the ‘Michels model’ (individualised training), which has shown attaining a high level isn’t beyond them. It’s now adding consistency to their ever-maturing game.
Progression to De Boer’s starting line-up has been gradual for Klaassen. He was sidelined for the majority of last season due to a lingering groin injury, and subsequently sent to a specialist in Barcelona at the behest of Cruyff, a long-time admirer. This campaign he’s started twice in Europe: the home victories over Celtic and Barça.
Even though Ajax no longer utilises a ‘number ten’ Klaassen acts as a quasi-deep-lying forward; he is comfortable with both feet, and good passing technique (35.5 per game with a success rate of 80.3%) has allowed him to settle into the Amsterdammers midfield carousel.
His best assets include playmaking – he has created more chances per game (1.5) in the Champions League than any of his teammates – vision, intelligent movement, an excellent first touch and spatial awareness. He combines individual skill with stamina (essential to Ajax’s pressing game) and defensive qualities but also has an eye for goal: 6 in the league, including a well-taken first hat-trick for the club this past Saturday against NAC Breda.
Milan know the onus is on Ajax, a point is enough to see the Italians advance, but it’s a scenario De Boer relishes. His side will remain patient, sticking to their philosophy: “create triangles on the pitch, engineer a numerical advantage in midfield, and create danger from that”. Klaassen will again be integral.
