章 153: Chapter 153
After their home win against Auxerre, Ajax quickly returned to league action, facing Twente in the 22nd round of the Eredivisie at the Amsterdam Arena.
Both teams engaged in an intense battle, and following their midweek UEFA Cup fixture, Ronald Koeman opted for a moderate rotation of the lineup to keep the squad fresh.
In the opening minutes, Yang Yang made an early impact, creating a threat down the right and earning a corner kick in the 6th minute.
Taking the corner himself, he delivered an accurate cross that found Vlaar, who rose above the defense to head the ball into the net.
Yang Yang's daily practice of his [Beckham's Technique] star skill was clearly paying off. He had noticed a steady improvement in his precision for crosses, corners, and indirect free kicks, with each delivery becoming more accurate and effective.
Ajax maintained their 1-0 lead through the first half, and in the 61st minute, Koeman decided to rest Yang Yang, substituting him out. However, as the match entered the final 10 minutes, Ajax's players began to tire, with their physical fitness fading. The absence of some key players left gaps in defense, and Twente capitalized, scoring twice in quick succession. Ajax's narrow lead vanished, and they suffered a 1-2 defeat as Twente pulled off a comeback.
This loss brought Ajax's unbeaten league streak, which had started in October, to an end in the 22nd round.
Despite the defeat, the Dutch media's response was fairly forgiving. Ajax's record had been remarkable up to this point, and a minor setback was considered understandable.
With this loss, Ajax relinquished their top position in the league standings. Alkmaar took over the lead with 53 points, followed closely by Eindhoven with 52 points. Ajax now trailed with 51 points, while Feyenoord held fourth with 41 points.
Analyzing the standings, it appeared that Ruud Gullit's Feyenoord side was out of contention for the championship.
In the UEFA Cup, Feyenoord had lost the first leg of their Round of 32 match, leaving the Dutch Cup as their only realistic hope for silverware this season. With limited distractions, Feyenoord seemed ready to concentrate fully on their remaining domestic games. During Ajax's loss, Feyenoord went on a rampage, securing a massive 7-2 away victory against De Graafschap.
Dirk Kuyt, who led the Eredivisie's top scorer list, netted a hat-trick in that game, bringing his season tally to 21 goals—four more than the second-placed Yang Yang.
Kuyt's remarkable consistency and his second hat-trick of the season sent shockwaves through Dutch football. Scoring over 20 goals for three consecutive seasons, he had firmly established himself as one of the league's most reliable scorers, attracting increasing interest from clubs across Europe's top leagues.
Kuyt's achievements with Feyenoord earned high praise, and Rotterdam's media outlets eagerly hyped his performance. Some newspapers even preemptively awarded him the season's top scorer title, celebrating his prolific form.
...
...
When Yang Yang returned to the locker room after his morning gym session, he noticed his teammates giving him strange looks.
"What's going on?" he asked, puzzled by their expressions. He trained in the gym every day—what was different today?
In response, his teammates seemed unsure how to answer, glancing awkwardly at each other. The more he looked around, the more curious he became.
Finally, Maxwell walked over, studying him closely, as if trying to uncover something hidden.
"You… feeling alright?" the Brazilian left-back asked cautiously.
The other players watched with concern in their eyes, waiting for his response.
"What would be wrong?" Yang Yang replied. "I'm just training."
"You seem… fine?" Maxwell asked, still probing.
"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine. What's this all about?" Yang Yang was now genuinely curious.
Maxwell scratched his head, frowning. "We just… thought maybe something would be different."
"Different? What do you mean?" Yang Yang pressed, still bewildered.
"It's like you're too normal," Vermaelen chimed in from the side.
Sneijder and De Jong nodded in agreement, clearly sharing the sentiment.
Realizing what they were getting at, Yang Yang shook his head with a laugh. "You all think that because Kuyt scored a hat-trick and pulled four goals ahead of me, I'd be crushed and in a foul mood?"
Maxwell and the others exchanged glances, then nodded.
"Well, I won't deny it stung a little," Yang Yang admitted. "But to think I'd be so thrown off that I'd be a mess? You must be underestimating me. Do you think I'm Ibrahimovic?"
Yang Yang couldn't help but laugh at the thought.
If it had been Ibrahimovic, the locker room would likely be in chaos by now. The Swede was famously direct, unable to keep his emotions in check; if he felt slighted, everyone would hear about it.
But Yang Yang was different. He wasn't one to make a fuss.
Besides, what good would it do to react like that?
As Yang Yang laughed, Maxwell, Vermaelen, Sneijder, and the others relaxed, reassured that he wasn't deeply affected. While Kuyt's hat-trick had made an impression, Yang Yang wasn't letting it disrupt his focus.
"To be honest, if Kuyt hadn't scored that hat-trick, things would feel too easy," Yang Yang said suddenly.
"What do you mean?" The comment left his teammates confused.
"A player needs a target to strive for. Kuyt is my target on the scorer's list. If he didn't push ahead, and I could overtake him without much effort, where would the challenge be? How would that push me to improve?"
Some players sought comfort by bringing their rivals down to their level, but Yang Yang was the opposite; he thrived on competing against the best. The tougher the opponent, the greater his motivation.
This season, Kuyt was the top scorer in the Eredivisie and Yang Yang's benchmark.
It wasn't about who would win the league; this was a personal battle between him and Kuyt.
"The stronger he gets, the more goals he scores, the more motivated I am," Yang Yang said with confidence. "He's sprinting ahead, but the league still has more than ten rounds left. Why rush?"
Seeing Kuyt's goal tally rise had certainly added some pressure, but Yang Yang was calm and grounded. He knew where to direct his focus.
Van Gaal, Van Basten, and Ruud Krol had all advised him on the importance of staying calm and rational—essential qualities both on and off the pitch.
As for the possibility of Kuyt running away with the top scorer title, Yang Yang wasn't too concerned. For him, it was about the journey and the challenge of testing his own limits.
Under pressure, people tend to grow quickly. Yang Yang embraced this as a way to drive himself to new heights, pushing his limits.
Even if he didn't finish as the top scorer, he was confident that neither his teammates nor the media would criticize him. The challenge was his alone.
So while he had the pressure, motivation, and determination to compete, there was no panic.
And, of course, he didn't plan to lose.
His teammates looked on, a bit stunned. They'd spent time debating how best to console him, only to find it entirely unnecessary.
"We'll be getting our gifts soon," Yang Yang said with a confident grin before walking away.
Maxwell and the others exchanged confused glances.
"Gifts?"
A moment later, they remembered: over the winter break, Yang Yang had promised them a gift if he scored more than 20 goals. He was only three away from reaching that target.
Now it was clear—Yang Yang's confidence was as high as ever, and comfort was the last thing he needed.
...
...
After Ajax's disappointing loss to Twente, the team finally received some good news.
Fitness coach Kruitenberg gave the green light for Johnny Heitinga's return, allowing the Ajax center-back to rejoin the lineup after missing three games due to injury. With Heitinga's return, Ajax's defense would be solidified, though it meant young Vlaar would move back to the bench.
In the previous three rounds, Vlaar's performance had been a mixed bag. Though he had his moments, including a well-timed goal, he also made some significant errors. Overall, however, the coaching staff and his teammates were reasonably pleased with his contributions.
Still, for now, he was not quite ready to replace Heitinga.
Interestingly, both Vlaar and Vermaelen were just 19, though Vlaar had recently turned 20 on February 16, while Vermaelen would not celebrate his birthday until the end of the year. Between the two, Vermaelen was the more stable and technically skilled, likely due in part to his training alongside Ibrahimovic over the past year. It highlighted the benefits of training with top-tier players, something Yang Yang himself experienced when playing regularly with Maicon, whose defensive skills had improved alongside him.
With Heitinga back in the squad, Ajax traveled to France for the second leg against Auxerre.
Despite their 4-0 lead from the first leg, Ajax remained cautious. Guy Roux had prepared his side well, and the first 30 minutes were a physical, hard-fought battle, with neither team able to gain the upper hand.
In the 31st minute, Bonaventure Kalou broke the deadlock, giving Auxerre the lead.
However, just five minutes later, Yang Yang responded with a well-taken equalizer, bringing Ajax back into the game.
After the break, Ajax took the initiative, pressing forward. In the 55th minute, Yang Yang set up Sneijder with a precise pass, allowing him to fire Ajax ahead, 2-1.
With the outcome largely settled, Ajax made a series of substitutions. Koeman introduced youth players Ryan Babel, Urby Emanuelson, and Hedwiges Maduro, hoping to give them valuable experience in the high-stakes environment of a European fixture.
Auxerre, meanwhile, appeared to lose focus as the match wound down, though they managed to score an equalizer in the 86th minute, leveling the game at 2-2.
Despite the draw, Ajax advanced comfortably with a 6-2 aggregate score, eliminating the French side from the competition.
Following the match, Yang Yang was awarded Man of the Match, thanks to his one goal and one assist.
...
...
Alkmaar training base, head coach's office.
Van Gaal and the three coaching staff members are sitting on the sofa, watching the TV on the opposite wall intently.
The TV is playing the 23rd round of the Dutch League that ended last night. Ajax challenged Roda Jc away.
This weekend, Van Gaal will take his Alkmaar to the Amsterdam Arena to challenge Ajax away. This will also be his first time returning to Amsterdam after he resigns as Ajax technical director.
Van Gaal attaches great importance to this game.
Roda JC's strength is not strong. In the first thirty minutes, he barely kept it. However, in the thirty-third minute, Yang Yang made a killer on the right and passed the assist to Charlie Steas to score a header.
Just eight minutes later, after Sneijder straight behind, Yang Yang easily beat the offside-trap and had a one on one opportunity which he scored making the score 2-0.
It was not until the 84th minute that Roda Jc scored a goal with Cristiano.
In the end, Ajax beat Roda JC 2-1 away.
Yang Yang's one assist and one goal boosted his number of goals this season to eighteen.
Because Eindhoven, Alkmaar and Feyenoord have all won, the top four rankings in the league remain unchanged.
Kuyt scored another goal this round, successfully pushing his total goals to 22.
But now, the video studied by Alkmaar's coaching staff is different from the regular game video. This game video carefully edited by club video analyst Max Rex is more conducive to analyzing Ajax's Technical and tactical characteristics.
Among them, Van Gaal attaches the most importance to Ajax's right-winger Yang Yang.
"The winter break of this season should be regarded as a watershed. Previously, Ronald Coleman mainly used Sneijder and Pienaar to build the midfield. The frontcourt was Wesley Songk and Charles Steas. And Yang Yang. "
"But after the winter break, Ronald Coman changed his tactics, Pinal was pushed to the left, and Garasek and De Jong formed a double back. This is also the current Ajax The most commonly used midfield formation, after the change, Yang Yang has become the most threatening attack point for Ajax. "
18 games, 18 goals, 12 assists, and 30 goals contributed. Yang Yang 's performance this season can be described by explosive growth, not to mention the outside media and fans, even Van Gaal himself feel incredible.
Van Gaal also clearly remembers that when he left Ajax, Yang Yang was a just a substitute. He was very sharp in breakthroughs and crosses, but he was weak in other aspects, but in just over half a year, he made rapid progress, especially his first touch.
Now he is no longer the same as half a year ago.
In addition to his first touch, Yang Yang's physical confrontation has also made obvious progress. From his original thin body, he has become stronger and can be seen at a glance. This is definitely the result of long-term strength training.
Also recently, Yang Yang's shooting has also become more threatening. According to the news received by Van Gaal, he has insisted on three months of shooting training.
The rapid progress of the three major items of stopping the ball, power confrontation and shooting has made Yang Yang's performance this season.
At the beginning of the season, there are still many people looking forward to, Yang Yang can grow into the most threatening winger after the Robben this season, but now, no one will compare Yang Yang to Robben.
The reason is very simple. Yang Yang's scoring ability has already surpassed Robben, he is more complete than Robben.
How to limit Yang Yang has become a problem that all teams must face when facing Ajax.
Van Gaal is no different.
...
In Alkmaar's training facility, Van Gaal and his coaching staff continued to analyze video footage, their amazement growing with each frame.
Yang Yang was only 18, yet the power and control he displayed on the pitch often surpassed seasoned professionals and even some star players. His progress over the past year, in particular, was nothing short of extraordinary.
"This isn't a sudden breakthrough," Van Gaal countered when one of his assistants suggested as much. "This is the result of years of building a strong foundation."
"A lot of accumulation?" the assistant asked.
Van Gaal nodded. "It may seem like he's suddenly come into his own, but that's because you haven't seen how intensely he's trained or how demanding he's been of himself these past years. Anyone who'd witnessed his drive wouldn't be surprised by his progress."
The coaching staff exchanged looks. They might not know Yang Yang personally, but they certainly knew Van Gaal well. Known for his demanding nature, Van Gaal's standards were famously high. Even at Barcelona, he wasn't afraid to confront players like Rivaldo, and few players managed to earn his full respect.
Yet here he was, speaking about Yang Yang with genuine admiration.
"I know this kid well. His work rate and fitness are exceptional. At this point, one-on-one marking is ineffective against him; it only disrupts our defensive shape," Van Gaal added.
Despite various suggestions from his staff, Van Gaal was certain of one thing: one-on-one marking wouldn't be enough to contain Yang Yang.
"Our passing and ball control aren't on Ajax's level," analyzed Marcel Bout, the team's tactical analyst. "Overall, Ajax is stronger, so our best bet is to focus on defense and counterattacks."
"I agree," Van Gaal said, considering the challenges. "We'll stick to our usual defensive structure but tighten up the midfield, especially around the edge of the penalty area and the wings. Yang Yang is most dangerous when he's in those spaces."
Alkmaar's team, known for its diligent, collective play style, was a different kind of project for Van Gaal. The players didn't have the technical skill for the dominant, ball-control style he'd coached elsewhere, so he had adapted, focusing on strong off-ball movement and compact organization.
This method had transformed Alkmaar, propelling them up the league standings. However, facing the league's top teams still posed a challenge, as seen in their 5-1 loss to Eindhoven earlier in the season. Yet after months of refinement, Van Gaal believed his team was now ready to face Ajax on the road.
But the immediate task was clear: find a way to limit Yang Yang.
"Yang Yang is smart, quick-thinking, and adaptable," Van Gaal continued. "We need to maintain our defensive shape and pay close attention to his positioning. This week, we'll focus on specific drills to neutralize him. At the Amsterdam Arena, we need to shut him down completely!"
Van Gaal's tone left no room for doubt. He proceeded to lay out detailed tactics for restricting Yang Yang's space, and his assistants exchanged glances, slightly puzzled.
Wasn't Yang Yang a friend of Van Gaal's?
Van Gaal's intensity almost made it seem like he was more determined to stop Yang Yang than anyone else.
"Louis, you and Yang Yang…" Marcel Bout finally ventured to ask.
Van Gaal immediately caught on. "Yes, I do have a good relationship with Yang Yang. But I'd be doing him no favors if I went easy on him."
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Van Gaal smiled.
"He's had it too easy this season. It's time someone gave him a reality check. Growth happens fastest under pressure."
The assistants shared amused looks, understanding now that this was typical Van Gaal.
After the meeting, Van Gaal pulled out his phone, scrolled to Yang Yang's number, and dialed. He guessed Yang Yang would have finished training by now and would be on his way home.
Sure enough, the call connected almost instantly.
"Congratulations, kid. Eighteen goals—impressive," Van Gaal said, his tone teasing.
"Oh, Louis, don't go soft on me. That's not like you," Yang Yang replied with a laugh, seeing right through Van Gaal's tone.
Van Gaal chuckled, allowing himself a rare, genuine laugh—a reaction reserved for few people, Yang Yang among them.
"I wanted to let you know, I have a little 'gift' ready for you this weekend at the Amsterdam Arena."
"A gift?" Yang Yang replied with a smirk. "So generous of you. Does it come with a couple of goals to help me catch up with Kuyt?"
"That depends. Can you score them?" Van Gaal asked, his tone challenging.
Yang Yang laughed, "Do you know, I asked Raiola to prepare some gifts as well?"
"A gift? For me?" Van Gaal replied with mock curiosity.
"Yeah, right! Keep dreaming!" Yang Yang laughed. "I promised the coaches, staff, and first-team players a gift each if I hit 20 goals. I'm only two away, so I plan to hand them out this weekend."
Van Gaal raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You're really going all out?"
"Why not? Scoring's a team effort. We all work together. I mean, l won a car after I won Best Player at the Toyota Cup. With that and my goal bonuses, I can manage some good gifts."
Van Gaal's eyes lit up, realizing Yang Yang's implication: with 18 goals already, Yang Yang intended to score a brace against Alkmaar to reach 20 by the weekend.
"Alright, alright," Van Gaal said, amused. "You've got ambition. I'll be waiting—don't disappoint me."
"Don't worry, Louis. Haven't you always said I never disappoint?"
Van Gaal paused. He remembered saying those words when he was Ajax's technical director—a role entirely different from his current position. Still, something about Yang Yang's response struck a chord.
"Alright, see you on the pitch this weekend!"
"See you there, Louis."
In the middle of the week, Ajax faced Den Haag in the quarterfinals of the Dutch Cup, playing with a semi-rotated lineup. They won 2-0, with Yang Yang sitting out to focus on the upcoming top-of-the-table clash against Alkmaar.
クリエイターの想い 
GxDesailly
GxDesailly Hey everyone! This week, I'll be releasing only 4 chapters instead of the usual 10, as I’ve been working on my other stories, Green Field Ascension and The Making of Football King.
You can check out both of these stories here on the app. Plus, if you’re interested in reading ahead, additional chapters for The Making of Football King and Green Field Ascension are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/FootballfictionPro007.
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