After five disappointing years mingling with the unpure, Ajax finally return to top-flight soccer. Too excited Ajax are, that the Amsterdammers outrageously jumped straight into the so-called Group of Death, filled with AC Milan, Real Madrid and Auxerre. It is really hard to see a more competitive group for this season’s Champions League than the group Ajax are in.
Nothing could really describe how critical is the return of Ajax to the Champions League. Earlier in the season, manager Martin Jol who engineered the return almost left Ajax for Fulham. One of the reasons why he contemplated the move was money: Ajax had little to spare to strengthen its squad. The Champions League is big dollar championship that may solve the financial issues that Ajax face.
Apart from money is the issue of prestige. Especially after the Dutch’s good run in the latest edition of the World Cup, big rich clubs are targeting multiple Ajax players. Suarez is one. van der Wiel is two. Stekelenburg is three. Top-flight soccer is a factor that may encourage these players and others in the first team to stay a little bit longer amid opportunities to play in bigger leagues with bigger pay.
Ajax also need to attract good players for the obvious reasons. The youth is of course great but Ajax need more than just building the future. Ajax need to build the present.
Yet another reason why the return is important is the fans. One cannot begin to describe the shame of exile. Four-time European winner, down there, somewhere under the radar. “Ajax, oh, they were good.” They were good…
I am clearly delighted with the return but honestly, I do not think Ajax will advance too far this time around, especially with the like of AC Milan and Real Madrid.
Ajax have a good time. Last season was great. El Hamdouai so far has proven to be a good buy, clicking with Suarez and the rest of the team. But AC Milan and Real Madrid are not Vitesse, Groningen, Twente, PSV or even the old lady Feyenoord whom fate nowadays deserves pity.
Ajax struggled with PAOK and Dynamo Kiev during the qualification and play-off round. Based on that performance, frankly, Ajax will struggle against Auxerre. Ajax will struggle against the other two teams in the group.
Ajax played against Auxerre previously in the Champions League. I do not remember anything more than that.
I do not know if Ajax played Real Madrid in the Champions League before.
But I know that Ajax played AC Milan countless of times before. The most memorable meet-up for Ajax is, well, watch this:
2 replies on “[2241] Of to mark a return, let’s do a Group of Death”
No wonder ya luv Ajax so much….
Ya both have so much stupid love….
For that bastard of a prostitute country…Israel!!!
and it is 2010 AD not 2010 CE….
wink…wink…wink…:)
Didn’t realise you were an Ajax fan.
Managed to catch a game in Amsterdam when I was finishing my MBA in Maastricht.
Been a big fan of Dutch football for more than 20 years, dating from Van Basten and gang.