super storm

Chapter 344 Rookie Wall [Second update, please subscribe monthly pass]

The Amsterdam Invitational is an annual traditional event for Ajax.

At the beginning of each season, Ajax will invite European powerhouses to Amsterdam to compete. In recent years, with the sinking of the Toyota Cup, the Amsterdam Invitational also intends to promote the event to internationalization, so it began to invite South American teams.

The four participating teams this season, in addition to the host Ajax, there are Arsenal from the Premier League, Porto from the Portuguese Super League, and Boca Juniors from South America and Argentina.

In the past month or so, Ajax has been undergoing arduous pre-season training, especially Yang Yang, who participated in the pre-season training for the first time, trained especially hard. However, because Yang Yang's training plan was out of sync with his teammates, he did not play well in the warm-up games before the season.

This has always been within the expectations of the coaching staff and Yang Yang himself.

Even at the Amsterdam Invitational, Yang Yang still failed to perform well.

In the first game against Boca Juniors, Ajax played poorly throughout the game and took advantage of the field, but the offense was delayed. In the end, Boca Juniors took the opportunity to score a goal, and finally lost the game [-]-[-].

Yang Yang played for 10 minutes, was closely marked by Boca Juniors, and his performance was relatively average.

When interviewed by the media after the game, Yang Yang said that he was recovering.

"I never believed in the so-called rookie wall, I just needed some time."

Ronald Koeman also said in an interview with the media that Yang Yang scored zero goals in the warm-up match. One of the important reasons is that he is undergoing pre-season physical reserve training and state adjustment. Everyone should give him more time.

"He doesn't need to prove himself to anyone now, he is the best player!"

"I believe that in the new season he will still be the best player in the Eredivisie."

Ajax is also very supportive of Yang Yang, and the fans are full of confidence in him, firmly believing that his downturn is only temporary and he will be able to come out soon.

Aron Moy, a well-known Dutch media person and host of Football Online, also supported Yang Yang in his radio program, thinking that it took less than a month for him to go from the World Youth Championship to the Amsterdam Invitational.

"In fact, we can see that many players who performed well last season often performed poorly in the World Cup or Confederations Cup in the summer. This is because every player has ups and downs."

"Yang Yang is undoubtedly at his lowest point right now, give him some time, I believe he can climb to a higher peak soon."

Two days later, in the second game of the Amsterdam Invitational, Ajax once again lost [-]-[-].

In this game, Yang Yang's state is obviously going to improve a little bit. In the opening 40 seconds, he had a wonderful heel pass, but Sneijder followed up with the push and failed to score.

Arsenal's problems also exposed its own problems, that is, Vieira's transfer, Gilberto Silva has not yet returned to the team, making the Gunners' protection of the front of the penalty area very weak.

Wenger once asked Pires to play the back position, but the effect was not very good.

Ajax consciously wanted to use this area, but Yang Yang was fighting with Ashley Cole, and Sneijder was alone.

According to the rules of the Amsterdam Invitational, Arsenal won two games and accumulated six points, plus three goals, for a total of nine points.

The warm-up matches and cup matches continued to be sluggish, which made Ajax extremely controversial.

In particular, Yaya Toure, who transferred this summer to replace captain Garasek, did not seem to be very comfortable after starting with De Jong. This made the team's stable midfield defense make some mistakes, but the offense was delayed.

Yang Yang's lack of excitement is only one aspect. The midfielder did not create enough shooting opportunities for him. This is the root cause.

The Dutch Telegraph stated in its comments that Ajax's offensive problems have begun to affect the team's new season journey, and Ronald Koeman should solve this problem as soon as possible before the new season officially starts.

Whether it is Ronald Koeman or Yang Yang, the media and fans will no longer question their coaching level and game strength, but now the problem for Ajax is how to solve the team's offense as soon as possible and reactivate Yang Yang's state.

Not only the media fans pay attention, even the management also attaches great importance to it.

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The second floor is the main coach's office.

Ali van Eyden, director of Ajax's technical department, head coach Ronald Koeman, chief assistant coach Luther Carroll, chief fitness coach Jan Kluytenberg, and captain Garasek as player representatives, the team's number one star Yang Yang, and midfielder Sneijder all sat together.

This is the first time Ajax has invited players to participate in the discussion in the new season. Obviously, the coaching staff also hopes to hear the opinions of the players, especially from Yang Yang, who is the team's number one star.

Last season, Yang Yang created half of Ajax's goals, and everyone has high hopes for him this season.

But there are also some people who are waiting to see Yang Yang's jokes, thinking that he will hit the rookie wall.

Losing the Amsterdam Invitational with such a dismal result, Ajax is under a lot of pressure.

Although it was just a warm-up match and no one tried their best, Ajax did play too badly, finishing bottom with zero points and no goals.

You know, the feature of this invitational tournament is that one goal counts as one point, and zero goals is really ugly.

The coaching staff took the lead in analyzing the team's situation, and believed that the current situation was basically not beyond everyone's expectations, including Yang Yang, whose state came slowly, which is also understandable.

Kruittenberg said that, including Yang Yang himself, there is no need to be too anxious.

"Before September, you will definitely be able to gradually enter the rhythm and state of the new season."

During this period of time, Yang Yang has been strictly following his training plan without any discount. If Yang Yang is not in good condition, then he, the fitness coach, must be responsible.

Yang Yang himself said that he felt that his condition was gradually returning, and he was full of confidence.

Garasek said that there is no problem in the team's locker room. Even the newly introduced Yaya Toure gets along well with the team without any problems.

As a captain and a veteran, Garasek failed to play the main force, which is somewhat embarrassing, but everyone believes in his role in the locker room, so he is still the captain of the team in the new season.

Sneijder admitted that there were some problems in the midfield, but he couldn't say where the specific problems were. He just felt that it was awkward to play. In the past, with Garasek and De Jong behind him, he could let go of his hands and feet, but now...

"Yaya Toure is also working hard on the defensive end, but I always feel that something is not right and I can't let go."

Luther Carroll recorded every word of Garasek and Sneijder attentively. This is also some ideas for the coaching staff to solve the problem. After all, the players are the most direct first parties on the court, and the feelings will be deeper.

Ronald Koeman also nodded, then turned to look at Yang Yang.

"Yang, you can tell me too."

Everyone immediately looked at Yang Yang.

Regardless of his talent, he is already the out-and-out pillar of the current Ajax team.

Apart from other things, if he said something in front of the media tomorrow, I would be very unhappy. The whole of Amsterdam and even the Dutch football world would cause an earthquake. If it was more serious, Ronald Koeman's coaching position would be shaken.

Because of this, the coaching staff pays special attention to Yang Yang's opinion. How to make him play comfortably and how to bring out his full strength has become the most important task of the coaching staff at present.

If Yang Yang is not activated, who will score in the new season?
Wesley Songk has left, and although Charisteas has scored in double digits, he is not a scoring center.

Whether it's Niklas Bendtner or Ryan Babel, they can't afford to be the leader for the time being.

Yang Yang also thought about it carefully for a while, and then looked at the head coach and Luther Carroll. With their encouragement, he spoke, "I'll just talk about my personal thoughts and feelings during the game."

"Well, it's okay. Since it's a symposium, of course it's free to speak freely." Ali Van Eden said.

Ronald Koeman also nodded and said: "It's okay, even if you think there is a problem with our tactics, just say it, everyone communicates to reach a consensus, right?"

Luther Carroll was listening, somewhat moved.

At this time two years ago, Yang Yang was just a fledgling boy who had just made his debut, but two years later, he has now become the pillar of Ajax. If one word is said, everyone in the club must pay attention and listen to it.

Sometimes when he thinks about it, he can't help but feel Yang Yang's rapid progress and rapid growth.

But he was somewhat worried, for fear that Yang Yang would start to lose his humility after the glory of last season, which is definitely a taboo for professional players.

But with so many people present, Luther Carroll could only listen to what Yang Yang wanted to say.

"Ronald is serious." Yang Yang smiled politely at Ronald Koeman, which is his respect for the head coach all the time, and Ronald Koeman also responded with embarrassment, and motioned him to continue with a smile.

Obviously, Yang Yang's statement made him feel respected. As long as what he said next is not too shocking, Ronald Koeman will listen and even accept it.

But precisely because of this, everyone present felt that what Yang Yang said next might be quite serious.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be like this.

(End of this chapter)