Nice win for Ajax. They looked superb until the Vertonghen injury (hopefully he's OK, that didn't look good) which I think that delay disrupted the flow of the match. They were still pretty good in the second half, but they didn't create a lot of chances after the interruption from Vertonghen going off.
Aside from the first 20 minutes, this was not the way Ajax usually wins. Glad to see they can win these ugly battles as well. Blind, de Ligt and van de Beek were pretty much the only ones who reached their usual level of play. I thought Veltman and Schöne were weak links and I think Ten Hag will act on that in the return leg.
Yeah Schöne wasn't particularly good. Ziyech, de Jong, Tadic weren't either. Especially the second half. Probably the worst half I've seen them play this season. I think it's all connected. Schöne will remain in the starting 11, though. He's a valuable member when Ajax is in possession.
Ajax should've taken much more advantage today considering the fact the Spurs will field a better roster in Amsterdam. It's still entirely open who goes through.
For me and in no particular order Frenkie, Ziyech, van de Beek and Veltman stood out. I thought apart from Moura turning away from him Frenkie was fantastic.
Overrated because of a few prominent names. A lot of talent goes through their academy for sure, but only a couple of players in their current squad have made it from the academy. Athletic has by far the most efficient academy in Spain, but also Real Sociedad and Villarreal are pretty good.
On the other hand in the Netherlands many clubs have academies comparable to Ajax too, even if none can be said to be better.
So "overrated" but "a lot of talent goes through their academy for sure." OK. And only "a couple of players" in the current squad have made it from the academy? If you count players who have played this season and who are still at the club, the answer is eight. That's more than a couple. You've also got four consistent starters and another player who has started more than the player he rotates with. And I'd love to know all these other clubs the size of Barça, or not for that matter, who have all these academy players. That's not to mention the players who aren't there for various reasons who could and possibly should be in the squad right now, guys like Thiago, Bartra, Deulofeu and Grimaldo. On top of that not only is La Liga full of former La Masia players, but you see them at other clubs as well. So per usual you're wrong.
I'd love to hear how you're measuring Athletic Club, and it is Athletic Club and not "Athletic", as the most efficient academy in Spain. And since you obviously would never do it, to put Athletic Bilbao into context here they have a "Basque only" player policy.