This could be an enlightening evening in the Johan-Cruyff-Arena. Not so much in terms of the actual competition. Since Ajax Amsterdam and FC Bayern are already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League in the last round Robin game, only to place 1 in the group E, for which the people of Munich a draw is enough. Furthermore, this duel is on Wednesday from a perspective of relevance. Perhaps the Munich-based future plays in Amsterdam.
To strengthen their ageing team, Bayern are in front of a larger shopping trip, and you are interested in including for two-player from Amsterdam, the defender Matthijs de Ligt and the midfield man Frenkie de Jong. Two high talents, the memories of the last great success of this great club. In 1995, Ajax stormed to a young and exciting team on the summit of the world, under the guidance of Louis van Gaal, who was then only in the rank of instructor Talent. And in the meantime it had to do the Dutch with the Bavarians.
The memory of this semi-final second leg in April 1995, hurts in Munich until today. Two weeks earlier, Bayern had to home with a lot of effort and even more luck, a 0:0 won. The fit on this humble season. In the Bundesliga, it was enough only to sixth place, in the Champions League, the Munich tormented after two defeats against Paris Saint-Germain through the preliminary round with two draws against IFK Gothenburg in the semi-finals. Bayern’s game was shaped by figures such as Thomas Helmer, Markus Babbel or Mehmet Scholl. Also Ajax allowed himself in the Person of Frank Rijkaard and Danny Blind is a bit of a Routine. But for the spirit of this team is the youth. Clarence Seedorf, Nwankwo Kanu, Edgar Davids and Marc Overmars, all of you were at the beginning of their careers. And played the Bavarians in the ground.
All of you have made great careers, just not with Ajax
Ajax’s early lead, scored by the Finns Jari Litmanen, could Marcel Witeczek the 1:1. Because this happened ten minutes before the break, hoping the Bavarians on something like nervousness in the opponent, but this emotion was the young Locals, foreign. A whole five minutes kept the tie, then the Nigerians Finidi George scored for renewed leadership, and Ronald de Boer to put seconds before the break a third goal. The Bavarians were beaten and at the end with the 2:5-defeat is still very well supported. “There was nothing to be done,” said Mehmet Scholl. And Jorge Valdano, the football from Argentina, formulated the nice compliment: “Ajax is close to football utopia!”
The Vienna final against the clever football Manager from AC Milan did not get quite so impressive. Just a Chance to let the Italians, but the recycled Patrick Kluivert shortly before the end of the 1:0 score the winning goal. Kluivert was like the attack-mate Nwankwo Kanu just 18 years old, Clarence Seedorf 19, Michael Reiziger 21 and Marc Overmars 23. Your 44-year-young coach Louis van Gaal promised: “This team can dominate football for years to come.”
is It not known to be so, but that was not to van Gaal and his exceptional players. All of them have made great careers, just not with Ajax. A year and a half after the Triumph of Vienna, the European court of justice said the Bosman judgment, it is guaranteed to the professionals undreamt-of freedoms and changed the football as fundamental as previously, only the introduction of the offside rule.
With the Bosman judgment, the time ended in a national embossed club teams. Ajax came in 1996 in the Champions League final and a year later, to the semi-finals, both times against Juventus final. After that, the team broke. Six of the heroes of Vienna, and was later the Blue-and-Red of FC Barcelona, her coach found twice in job. Louis van Gaal later worked for the Dutch national team, FC Bayern and Manchester United. But he was not able to dominate the football in shape, as he had said to his team in 1995. After his dismissal in Manchester two years ago, Louis van Gaal, who lives in retirement as an Elder Statesman in the Trainer. The Champions League victory of Vienna remained his only one.
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Champions League Why Ajax Amsterdam FC Bayern can keep up
Stefan Hermann
Sven Goldmann writes on Tuesdays in the game weeks of the Champions League, Kicker, clubs and a classic in Europe’s football.
