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Chapter 197 - A System Under Strain

Yang Yang had no disrespect for Ronald Koeman. On the contrary, he respected him as the manager who gave him his breakthrough.

But he also felt he had to speak honestly.

Ajax's current tactical setup, in his opinion, was too conservative, and that conservatism was throttling the team's attacking creativity.

Koeman was a naturally defensive-minded coach. His greatest strength had always been organizing a compact back line and instilling discipline across the squad. Last season's turning point was exactly that: pushing Sneijder further forward, moving Pienaar to the left wing, and using Galásek and De Jong as a double pivot. That brought much-needed balance, especially in defense.

But when it came to offense?

Ajax had the worst attacking record of the Eredivisie's top four clubs last season — even Feyenoord scored more. That, Yang Yang said plainly, wasn't sustainable.

From a personal standpoint, his goals and assists had accounted for half of Ajax's total output — a staggering figure. While flattering, it also exposed a clear imbalance. In the modern game, if you don't adapt, your opponents will — and if you're one-dimensional, they'll stop you.

Yaya Touré was brought in from Metalurh Donetsk with the idea of replacing Galásek as a more dynamic partner to De Jong. But there was a fundamental issue: Yaya wasn't Galásek. The Ivorian was faster, more athletic, had a wider coverage area, better technique, and was a natural dribbler. He had both attacking and defensive instincts — but no clear role yet.

Yang Yang shared a private conversation he'd had with Yaya. At Arsenal, Touré had impressed technically, but Arsène Wenger and his staff felt he lacked positional clarity. He didn't fit the mold of a pure destroyer like Gilberto Silva, nor was he a traditional playmaker like Pires or Fabregas.

"They didn't know what to do with him," Yang said. "But we can — if we're willing to adjust."

Sneijder nodded in agreement. "It's like… I can't breathe out there. I used to have Galásek and De Jong behind me. Now with Yaya, I don't know where he'll be — front? back? It's unpredictable."

"But unpredictable can be a strength," Yang countered. "If we use it right."

He outlined a new approach.

"Wesley's role shouldn't change — he orchestrates in the final third. But behind him, we shift De Jong into the lone holding midfielder. Let him anchor the midfield. He's already the best at interceptions, his passing range is clean, and his turnover rate is elite — we all know that."

Yang cited the stats: De Jong averaged over 90% pass accuracy and only lost the ball 0.7 times per game — elite numbers for a defensive midfielder.

"That frees Yaya to be what he's best at — a box-to-box disruptor. Someone who can carry the ball from deep, break lines, and support the attack with late runs. We've never had that kind of player."

Ruud Krol leaned forward, clearly intrigued. "He has the legs and the touch. We just haven't unlocked him."

Yang nodded. "And when he does get forward, he's calm in the final third. He doesn't panic, and with his strength, he can hold off challenges. That's what we've been missing."

Ronald Koeman and Krol exchanged glances. They both knew this wasn't just idealistic talk — it was practical.

Yang Yang continued, gesturing toward the board. "Charisteas is a classic number nine. Let him occupy the center backs. I'll float across the front line, attack the half-spaces, and link with Pienaar on the left. Sneijder operates behind, and Yaya supports from deep."

"With Maxwell and Maicon pushing wide, we'll have width and depth."

Silence followed.

Then Ruud Krol broke the silence. "I think it works."

"But what about defense?" Ronald Coman asked, frowning.

As a coach rooted in defensive discipline, that was always Coman's first concern.

"Our traditional strength lies in counter-pressing. As long as the players maintain strong tactical cohesion and discipline, the defensive structure shouldn't be compromised," Ruud Krol explained.

That argument carried weight.

Ajax's forward trio — Charisteas, Yang Yang, and Pienaar — were all tactically disciplined and tireless in their off-the-ball work. Their high pressing had often forced opponents into mistakes, and if supported by a dynamic midfield, that pressure could regain its bite.

Yaya Touré's physicality, stamina, and ball-winning instincts made him ideal to serve as a mobile buffer between the lines. With De Jong's reliability and Sneijder's creativity alongside him, the midfield could balance both aggression and control.

With proper execution, this revised setup could both sharpen Ajax's attack and reinforce their defensive foundation.

...

...

In the end, the coaching staff didn't commit to any sweeping changes immediately, but Ronald Coman made one thing clear—he would try.

The very next day, during team training, the coaching staff quietly began incorporating the tactical ideas Yang Yang had proposed. During the group confrontation drills, Yaya Touré was granted more offensive freedom off the bench.

And the effect was almost instant.

With more liberty to surge forward, the Ivorian began to showcase what made him so highly regarded: several times he picked up the ball deep in Ajax's own half and bulldozed his way through the midfield, reaching the final third with elegant power. His close control under pressure just outside the box impressed everyone—calm, calculated, confident. Everything Yang Yang had seen in him was starting to materialize on the pitch.

Sneijder and Yaya Touré, too, began adjusting their movement patterns. Communication between them grew sharper, and a rhythm began to emerge. No one in the team doubted Ajax's talent pool—they had won the league the previous season, and the squad was now a year older, wiser, and stronger.

The only real question left was: could the team's offense click in time?

The clock was ticking. After the disappointment of the Amsterdam Invitational, only four days remained until the Dutch Super Cup—the Johan Cruyff Shield—and Ajax didn't have enough time to fully prepare. As a result, head coach Ronald Koeman chose not to immediately implement the new tactical system suggested by Yang Yang.

As the traditional curtain-raiser to the Eredivisie season, this year's Johan Cruyff Shield was held at the Amsterdam Arena. League champions Ajax faced KNVB Cup winners PSV Eindhoven in a highly anticipated edition of the Dutch national derby.

Eindhoven had not made significant signings over the summer, but they had lost their midfield anchor Mark van Bommel, who had departed on a free transfer to join Barcelona under Frank Rijkaard. His absence was deeply felt.

In his place, Guus Hiddink deployed a midfield trio of Theo Lucius, Timmy Simons, and veteran Phillip Cocu. Up front, Eindhoven lined up with Jefferson Farfán, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, and a young Ibrahim Afellay.

Ajax's formation remained relatively consistent. Ronald Koeman stuck with the front three of Steven Pienaar, Angelos Charisteas, and Yang Yang. The midfield featured Wesley Sneijder, Tomáš Galásek, and Nigel de Jong as the double pivot. At the back, it was Maxwell, Ron Vlaar, John Heitinga, and Maicon, with Maarten Stekelenburg in goal.

From kickoff, both teams played with intensity. The first 20 minutes were especially physical—Pienaar and Afellay were each shown yellow cards as both sides fought for early control.

Ajax's persistent issue re-emerged: their attacking play looked disjointed. Yang Yang was still working his way back into form and was tightly marked throughout. The team struggled to build dangerous sequences, and Sneijder found himself overburdened trying to link midfield and attack alone.

The Galásek–De Jong pivot offered defensive stability, but Ajax's attack remained blunt and uninspired.

The first half ended in a goalless 0-0 draw, with neither side able to create a breakthrough.

After the break, Eindhoven ramped up their offensive pressure, especially from the wings. In the 51st minute, Afellay won a corner with a forceful dribble on the left. The resulting set piece saw center-back Alex rise above the defense and head the ball across goal, where Wilfred Bouma capitalized, firing into the net to give PSV a 1-0 lead.

The goal silenced the 50,000 Ajax fans inside the Arena, their frustration beginning to simmer.

From the preseason matches to the Amsterdam Invitational and now the Dutch Super Cup, Ajax had yet to show cohesion in their attack. Last season, Yang Yang's brilliance had carried them. But with him still regaining fitness, the team looked one-dimensional.

Without Yang Yang in top form, could Ajax function? Could the system generate offense without leaning entirely on him?

The murmurs of discontent from the stands were growing louder.

Ronald Koeman could feel it: this team needed a spark, a change. The formula from last season wasn't going to cut it anymore. Not if they wanted to stay champions.

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