AMSTERDAM • There are few clubs with a history to match that of Ajax, and they are aiming to add a new chapter with their first treble since the days of Johan Cruyff.
The first leg, the Dutch Cup, was secured with a 4-0 Sunday stroll over Willem II.
Then there will be a battle for the Dutch league title that resumes this weekend. They are deadlocked with PSV Eindhoven on 80 points with two games left.
Before that, Ajax could be through to their first Champions League final since 1996.
They take a 1-0 lead into today's semi-final second leg against Tottenham, with young stars like Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and Donny van de Beek mesmerising Europe having defeated Real Madrid and Juventus.
Those players have dominated the headlines, but the work done by coach Erik ten Hag, 49, has been remarkable.
His career as a player was unremarkable by comparison, with the 2001 Dutch Cup the only major trophy he won on the field.
"He loved the game and he loved talking about the game," Scott Booth, who played in that Twente side, said of his captain.
Ten Hag the midfielder was close to Fred Rutten, his coach at Twente and, after ending his playing career at the age of 32, later became Rutten's assistant at PSV.
Before that, he had a spell as an assistant to Steve McClaren at Twente, helping the Englishman to win a first Dutch title in 2010.
These days, ten Hag's playing style draws comparisons to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
"When we lose the ball, we must win it back immediately," goalkeeper Andre Onana said.
"He is focused on that, he is always telling us that if we have control of the ball, we have the ability to push back any opponent."
In his first season as a coach in his own right, ten Hag won promotion with Go Ahead Eagles in 2013, but he left them for a job with Bayern Munich's reserve side.
His time in Bavaria coincided with Guardiola's first two years as Bayern coach.
"I still remember very well that when I quit the Eredivisie to go and coach in the German Regionalliga (fourth tier), lots of people in the Netherlands were sceptical," ten Hag told German daily Bild.
"I never regretted that decision. To work at a club as big as Bayern was like winning the lottery."
He lapped up the opportunity to watch Guardiola's training sessions up close before returning to the Eredivisie with Utrecht in 2015.
After two top-five finishes and a Dutch Cup final appearance, Ajax saw ten Hag as the ideal man to take over midway last season.
Ajax, the Europa League runners-up in 2017, were knocked out of both European competitions in the preliminary rounds last term, but ten Hag steered them to a second-place finish in the league.
The foundations were laid for this season's run.
"What he is managing to do with such young players is remarkable," former striker Pierre van Hooijdonk told TV station NOS.
"The likes of de Ligt, de Jong and van de Beek have only just come out of the academy and are already playing like veterans. Ten Hag deserves huge credit."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Man City are champions LIVE: Latest reaction as Liverpool finish second. Manchester City are champions after beating Brighton to pip Liverpool in a thrilling title race - latest updates here
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City - msn.com
Claudio Ranieri meets the press for the the third time in three days this afternoon at Motspur Park as he previews Fulham's trip to Manchester United. The Cottagers played out a 1-1 draw with the Italian's former side Leicester City on Wednesday night, where Aboubakar Kamara put his side ahead before James Maddison equalised with just 16
Fulham appoint Ranieri after sacking Jokanovic - Newspaper
chelsea Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four EPL spot. Chelsea moved three points clear of London rivals Arsenal, who were beaten at Southampton.
Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four spot
Football: Di Maria and Mbappe among the goals as PSG win big again, Neymar to get treatment in Brazil "He's going to become one of the best players in the history of football and I'm trying to
Di Maria brace seals 3-1 win for PSG over Marseille
A lot of work to do. Defensively, I like that we won the ball higher up the pitch at times. But we still look like we can't keep up with the opposition when we have to defend in our half. And the passing out the back was not very good. Cech is not cut out for this level anymore. And Bellerin continues to look below average.
Arsenal transfer news: 'Gunners, Crystal Palace and Leicester
Find Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City result on Yahoo Sports. View full match commentary including video highlights, news, team line-ups, player ratings, stats and more.
Football Live Scoring: Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester
Jun 05, 2019 · Rare Earths Battle Looms as U.S. Aims to Counter China Export Threat The Department's release of a report outlining steps to ensure supply came hours after the Asian nation's top state
30 years after Tiananmen, the tanks are gone but the
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with Bonansea double; As Canarinhas thump Reggae Girlz. 11 hours ago. VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football World Cup on Sunday (June
Australia fall to Italy in dramatic Women's World Cup clash
Hougang United Football Club, one of nine clubs in the professional football league, has filed a police report against an employee after losing S$278,200 from its coffers. ADVERTISING A female administrative staff member, Tean Tai Tee, allegedly misappropriated the sales revenue from the clubhouse between Nov 29 and Dec 11 last year.
tiagong, this female employee hoot Hong Gan United Football
Edinson Cavani is a major doubt for Paris St Germain's Champions League clash with Manchester United after picking up a thigh injury in his team's 1-0 Ligue 1 win over Girondins de Bordeaux on Saturday. The Uruguay striker left the pitch on the stroke of halftime holding his thigh, soon after scoring with a penalty in the 42nd minute.
Cavani doubtful for Man United game, Latest Football News
Football: PSG buy Argentina midfielder Paredes for estimated
Gymkhana bemoan 'unfair' treatment, Football News & Top
Tottenham may have to play the rest of 2018-19 without Harry Kane, who hurt his ankle against Manchester City. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino fears Harry Kane could miss the rest of the season
Harry Kane could miss rest of season with ankle injury
0 comments:
Post a Comment