Make we yarn about one of the biggest football gist for 2019 Champions League season. Ajax, dat Dutch side wey many pipo don forget, come shock Europe with dem young, hungry players. Dem start from qualifying round, beat teams like Sturm Graz, Standard Liege, and Dynamo Kyiv before even reach group stage.
For group stage, pipo no expect much from Ajax. Dem dey inside same group with Bayern Munich and Benfica. But dis young squad no gree. Dem draw Bayern Munich away for Matchday 2, with Noussair Mazraoui score equalizer. Den dem beat Benfica with last-minute goal from Mazraoui again. By dis time, Europe begin dey look Ajax side.
Dusan Tadic score three goals for last two group games, help Ajax qualify from group. Dis na where di real wahala start. Dem draw Real Madrid for round of sixteen. First leg end 2-1 for Real Madrid, and many pipo think Ajax don finish. But second leg for Amsterdam na different story entirely.
Ajax dismantle Real Madrid with ruthless flair. Frenkie de Jong show why Barcelona pay big money for am. Matthijs de Ligt lead defense well. Dusan Tadic, former Southampton forward, turn superstar for dat night. Even Barcelona fans wey dey work for beIN SPORTS studio dey shout for joy as dem watch Ajax destroy Real Madrid.
After beating Real Madrid, Juventus come next. Juventus don buy Cristiano Ronaldo specifically for Champions League. Ronaldo just finish Atletico Madrid with hattrick for previous round. But Ajax no fear. De Ligt score important goal, help Ajax eliminate Juventus too.
Internet full memes say Ajax na grim reaper wey dey kill Europe superclubs. Dem don beat Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus. Tottenham Hotspur come next for semifinal. Dis one na painful one. Ajax almost reach final, but Tottenham come turn am last minute. Mauricio Pochettino cry for joy while Ajax players cry for sorrow.
Dat image of Frenkie de Jong just dey look into night as Tottenham players dey celebrate around am – e dey haunt pipo mind. Dis young squad no fit repeat 1995 achievement where Patrick Kluivert win Champions League for Ajax at 18 years.
Like 1995 squad, dis 2019 team scatter quick quick. De Jong go Barcelona. De Ligt go Juventus. Lasse Schonne, Kasper Dolberg, Hakim Ziyech all leave. Next season, Ajax no even qualify from Champions League group stage, drop to Europa League where Getafe eliminate dem.
Football full stories like dis. Ajax 2019 run show say anything fit happen for Champions League. Dem young players give Europe excitement wey pipo no forget. Dem no win trophy, but dem win hearts. Dem prove say money no be everything for football.
Working for beIN SPORTS studio during dat period na different experience. Presenters like Nigel de Jong and Ruud Gullit dey react to Ajax progress with same excitement as fans. Even Barcelona supporters wey dey anti-Real Madrid dey enjoy how Ajax dey play.
Dutch football always get dis pattern – dem dey play beautiful football but always collapse at important moment. Dennis Bergkamp goal against Argentina, Robin van Persie header against Spain, Total Football failure against Germany. But Ajax 2019 break dat pattern until semifinal.
Di ting wey make dis Ajax squad special na dem combination of youth and confidence. Dem no fear any team. Dem play same attacking football whether against Sturm Graz or Real Madrid. Dem belief in dem style no shake.
Now, pipo dey wonder if Ajax fit ever repeat such performance. Football world dey watch as dem try build another young team. But one thing sure: for dat brief period in 2019, Ajax give us football magic wey remind us why we love dis game.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
