The two-week international break had a significant impact on Ajax, a club with many internationals scattered across senior and youth national teams.
When the players returned to Amsterdam from long international journeys, most of them failed to meet the expected physical standards during medical evaluations at Kruitenberg. Those who played in both national team matches, often clocking two full ninety-minute games, were visibly fatigued.
There was little Ronald Koeman could do about it.
With World Cup qualifiers in full swing across all confederations, national team coaches were under intense pressure to deliver results. As a consequence, they pushed their players hard, with little regard for their club responsibilities.
Faced with this situation, Koeman had no choice but to rotate heavily for the fourth round of the Eredivisie.
Veteran Hans Vonk was handed the gloves in goal. The back line featured Urby Emanuelson at left back, a central pairing of Ron Vlaar and Hedwiges Maduro, and Zdeněk Grygera on the right. The midfield trio consisted of Tomáš Galásek in the holding role, with Steven Pienaar and Wesley Sneijder ahead of him. The forward line was led by Ryan Babel on the left, Nicklas Bendtner through the center, and Yang Yang on the right.
The quality gap between the starting XI and the full-strength side was noticeable.
Even though half of the regular starters were on the pitch, the match against Willem II away was disjointed and lacked rhythm. Ajax struggled to control the tempo. Their attacking and defensive transitions were chaotic, and players clearly weren't in sync.
Yang Yang remained a bright spot. Operating from the right flank, he was active and dynamic, but Grygera's limited offensive support left him frequently isolated.
In the 35th minute, Yang Yang broke down the right and whipped in a dangerous low cross into the box. Nicklas Bendtner controlled it with his back to goal and laid it off smartly for Galásek, who surged forward and smashed in a volley from the edge of the area — 1–0 to Ajax.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 60th minute when Grygera, already under pressure for his underwhelming performance, made an ill-timed and clumsy challenge. The referee had no hesitation in showing him a straight red.
Down to ten men, Ajax were forced to dig deep.
Willem II, sensing opportunity, began to commit more numbers forward in search of an equalizer. But that proved to be their undoing.
In the 86th minute, Yang Yang, who had shifted into a more central role to lead the counterattack, picked up the ball deep in Ajax's half and carried it forward with blistering pace. Cutting through Willem II's midfield, he released Bendtner with a perfectly weighted pass. The Danish striker calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 2–0 — his first league goal of the season.
Ajax held firm in the final minutes to seal an unconvincing but important away victory.
Despite the scoreline, Yang Yang knew that the team was far from its best. The impact of the international break had left the squad disjointed and physically drained.
Still, Ajax maintained their perfect record in the Eredivisie with four wins from four matches.
In the individual scoring charts, however, Yang Yang lost his lead.
Shota Arveladze, now at AZ Alkmaar, netted a hat trick this round, bringing his tally to seven goals — overtaking Yang Yang at the top. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Heerenveen followed with four goals, while Feyenoord's Dirk Kuyt, hampered by tactical rigidity, had managed only three so far.
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...
Midweek in Prague. Letná Stadium.
The UEFA Champions League group stage had kicked off, and in Group B's opening round, Sparta Prague hosted Ajax under the lights in the Czech capital.
As the clock ticked into the 87th minute, tension was thick. Ajax were trailing 1–0, struggling to find any rhythm after a sluggish performance marred by international fatigue.
But then, out of nothing, Yang Yang made something happen.
Receiving a pass from Maxwell on the left flank, he spun quickly, shifting his body weight to escape Sparta's right-back Martin Petráš. With a burst of pace, he surged diagonally across the edge of the penalty area, carrying the ball toward the top of the arc.
Just as the defenders collapsed toward him, he released a clean, intelligent pass to the opposite side — precisely weighted and perfectly timed. Sneijder, arriving from deep, didn't hesitate. One strike. Bottom corner.
Ajax had equalized. 1–1.
Yet, strangely, there were no wild celebrations from the players in red and white. No running toward the corner flag. No fists in the air.
Because for all the brilliance of Yang Yang's moment of clarity, they had dug themselves into this situation earlier in the second half.
The goal they conceded had come down the right side, where Maicon — fatigued and out of rhythm after returning from Brazil — had failed to track his runner. His entire performance had been subdued, both defensively and going forward. He lacked the usual aggression and sharpness that made him such a threat.
In fairness, the criticism felt harsh. The long-haul travel, limited recovery time, and his peripheral role in Brazil's national setup had taken a toll.
But sympathy did little to change the scoreboard.
Ajax weren't alone in their struggles. Arsenal, their top-seeded rival in Group B, had fared no better — and arguably worse.
Hosting Swiss underdogs FC Thun at Highbury, the Gunners were expected to cruise. Instead, they labored through an uninspired display. Gilberto Silva, recovering from injury and spared Brazil duty, opened the scoring in the 51st minute, only for Thun to equalize two minutes later.
Arsenal's marquee names — Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès, José Antonio Reyes — all looked out of sorts. Static, disconnected, weary. It wasn't until the final seconds of stoppage time that Dennis Bergkamp conjured up a moment of calm, slotting home to snatch a 2–1 victory.
Despite the result, the British media had no patience for excuses. Wenger blamed the international break. Few bought it.
Ajax, meanwhile, were seen in a different light. A 1–1 draw away to Sparta Prague may not have been ideal, but for a team still considered a level below the European elite, the result was tolerable — especially considering the tired legs and squad rotation.
Still, the gap was visible.
Among the Dutch side, one player stood out — yet again.
Yang Yang had been relentless all evening, even when isolated. His dribbling pulled defenders out of shape. His energy broke open static phases. And when Ajax desperately needed something in the final minutes, he created it himself.
No other teammate came close to matching his influence.
Public and pundits alike agreed: Ajax didn't do enough to support him. But even so, he found a way to alter the match.
One assist. One point. And the quiet message: without Yang Yang, this Ajax side may not have escaped Prague with anything at all.
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September 18, Noon — Alkmaar, Netherlands
Eredivisie, Round 5: AZ Alkmaar vs. Ajax
Fresh off a taxing Champions League draw away in Prague, Ajax were immediately thrust into another high-stakes match — this time on Dutch soil, away to AZ Alkmaar.
For Louis van Gaal, the timing was ideal. His side had just returned from a UEFA Cup fixture in Russia, where a rotated squad suffered a wild 3–5 defeat to Krylia Sovetov Samara. But that result was of little concern. Van Gaal had kept his key players fresh, all with this clash in mind — and his intentions were crystal clear: take down Ajax at home.
Ajax, meanwhile, arrived at the Alkmaarderhout weary but determined. Despite their fatigue, the visitors exploded out of the gates.
In the third minute, it was Wesley Sneijder who initiated the play, slipping a precise through ball into the right half-space. Yang Yang burst onto it with a perfectly timed run, cut past his marker with a sharp touch, and slotted it calmly into the bottom corner to give Ajax a dream start.
Only three minutes later, the Chinese prodigy turned provider. Ghosting down the right flank, he delivered a low cross into the box. Angelos Charisteas reacted first, getting in front of his marker and poking the ball in for Ajax's second. Just six minutes in, Ajax were 2–0 up and seemingly cruising.
But Yang Yang wasn't convinced.
Even as his teammates celebrated, he was already rallying them back into focus. He knew Van Gaal's AZ were no ordinary side — and he was right to worry.
AZ gradually wrested control away. Their passing sharpened, their pressing intensified. The game settled into a stalemate for the next twenty minutes, but then, in a flash, game swung.
In the 35th minute, a quick combination play from AZ opened up space on the right. The ball was squared into the area, where Shota Arveladze pounced and converted to pull one back. Two minutes later, Arveladze struck again — this time catching Ajax flat-footed off a corner. 2–2. The home crowd roared.
Ajax had been stunned.
But just as halftime approached, Thomas Vermaelen launched a long diagonal ball from the back. Yang Yang, positioned at the edge of the box, brought it down with a sublime first touch. With defenders closing in, he spun sharply and smashed a right-footed volley past the keeper to restore Ajax's lead — 3–2.
The second half opened in a similar flurry. Within sixty seconds, Yang Yang carved open the AZ defense with a curling run down the left and squared it across the box. Steven Pienaar met it, controlled, and laid it off for Sneijder, who calmly placed it into the top corner. 4–2. Ajax had breathing room again — or so they thought.
Kenneth Pérez had other plans.
In the 54th minute, AZ worked the ball around the edge of the box. Pérez drifted inside from the left, received a short pass, and rifled in a low shot just inside the post. Two minutes later, chaos in the Ajax box led to another opening for Pérez, who slotted home to make it 4–4.
Neither side could break the deadlock again. Despite Yang Yang's two goals and one assist — bringing his league tally to eight goals and four assists in five matches — the match ended in a draw.
The real blow came later, though: Ajax relinquished their place at the top of the Eredivisie standings.
The new leaders?
RKC Waalwijk. A team that had quietly won five straight games, albeit against less formidable opponents. Their Cinderella start to the season now had the attention of the entire league.
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...
Ajax and AZ Alkmaar combined for eight goals in a thrilling match—undeniably a spectacular affair.
Neither side showed signs of caution. From start to finish, the game was played with high intensity and ambition. Yet despite the attacking fireworks, Ajax left the Alkmaarder Hout with clear problems exposed—chief among them, the defense.
It's a recurring issue.
Ajax's triumphs over the past two seasons—winning the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup in back-to-back years—owed much to Ronald Koeman's tactical pragmatism. His use of Galásek and De Jong as a double pivot brought stability and balance. That defensive platform allowed Ajax to thrive both domestically and in Europe.
But this season, things have shifted. With Yaya Touré playing a more liberated role in midfield, Ajax's attacking threat has soared. They currently boast the most potent offense in the Eredivisie. Yet as the goals have flowed forward, cracks have reappeared at the back.
Early on, it was Heitinga struggling. Later, other defensive options failed to show consistent composure. The backline is unstable—and everyone knows it.
Koeman's explanation points to scheduling.
The two-week international break hit Ajax hard, as it tends to impact clubs filled with internationals. And the Eredivisie's fixture list doesn't always help. Although the league does attempt to alternate home and away fixtures, there are still stretches with back-to-back away games.
Koeman wasn't alone in pointing this out. Last season, Feyenoord boss Ruud Gullit blamed similar scheduling quirks for Dirk Kuyt's slip in the Golden Boot race, citing consecutive away trips that drained the team's energy.
This time, Ajax returned from the international break to face three away matches in a row: Willem II, Sparta Prague in the Champions League, and AZ Alkmaar. That's three matches in three different cities, one in a different country, all within the span of eight days. The cumulative toll on the players' physical condition was clear.
Add to that the fatigue many players carried back from national team duty, and the problem deepens. The lack of intensity in Ajax's pressing, the late-game lapses, the loss of cohesion—these are all symptoms of a squad running on fumes.
The day after the Alkmaar draw, Koeman convened a meeting with Yang Yang, Galásek, and Sneijder.
The message was simple: keep the squad united.
"The dressing room must remain steady," Koeman said. "If we stay calm, the break next week will give us the reset we need."
Kruitenberg echoed that optimism. As Ajax's trusted fitness coach, he promised that the team's conditioning would improve over the break—but only if the squad remained mentally strong and didn't fracture under pressure.
"When you're winning, everything's easy. Smiles, chemistry, trust—it all flows," Kruitenberg noted. "But when adversity strikes, that's when every small issue comes to the surface. That's the danger."
Now more than ever, as captain, Yang Yang knew he had a role to play. Not just as a scorer or playmaker—but as the glue that kept the squad together.
...
...
When the Ajax team bus arrived at Shen Ji Chinese Restaurant in Almere, the place had already closed to the public in preparation.
Yang Yang had reserved the entire restaurant to host a private dinner for his teammates. He had asked his uncle, Shen Ming, to spend the whole day preparing a variety of Chinese dishes tailored to the dietary needs of footballers, ensuring a meal that was both enjoyable and appropriate for athletes.
Many of the players had already heard about the restaurant through the media. It was well known that Shen Ji was run by Yang Yang's uncle, and in past seasons, players like Ibrahimović had visited the place with him. While some initially thought the praise might have been exaggerated, those who had actually tried the food, including Sneijder and Maxwell, were convinced otherwise.
When Yang Yang proposed the idea of a team dinner, most players agreed immediately. Maxwell was the only one who joked about staying home for a barbecue, but the rest quickly overruled him.
Because the gathering was not publicized, there were no fans or media present. A few passersby nearby noticed the team's arrival and took photos, but no one approached. The restaurant remained undisturbed as Ajax players made their way inside.
Shen Ming managed the kitchen, while Yang Yang helped welcome the guests and made sure everything ran smoothly. He had worked here before joining Ajax, so he was comfortable moving between tables, assisting with orders, and chatting with his teammates. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the players were able to enjoy themselves without formality.
Ronald Koeman didn't attend. He believed his presence might make the players feel constrained. However, he fully supported Yang Yang's effort to bring the team together. With a short break in the schedule, he had given the squad two days off to rest and recover, hoping the time away would help restore focus and morale.
Once the food was served, the players quickly shifted their attention to the dishes in front of them. Most of them were unfamiliar with Chinese cuisine, but Shen Ming had developed several recipes that blended traditional Chinese flavors with more familiar European tastes. As a result, even those who were unsure at first had no trouble finding something they liked.
As the dinner progressed, conversation naturally turned to football.
Yang Yang used the opportunity to casually share some of the points discussed earlier in the day with the coaching staff. He explained that the staff had concerns about team morale and performance, especially after the recent draw against Alkmaar. The purpose of the meeting had been to better understand the mood within the squad and to ensure that no divisions were forming.
As captain, Yang Yang saw it as his responsibility to communicate openly with his teammates and help maintain a stable environment. He emphasized that, despite recent issues, the overall situation remained positive.
"In terms of results, this is probably the best start we've had in two or three years," he said.
Several players nodded. They remembered how inconsistent the previous seasons had been. Last year, Ajax had suffered a heavy 4–0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage. The year before that, even in the title-winning campaign, the early performances were shaky, including a loss to AC Milan in the group stage opener.
By contrast, this season had begun with an undefeated run and a UEFA Super Cup win over Liverpool. The attacking form was strong, even if the defense still needed improvement.
"Speaking of AC Milan," he said, "I was sitting right in front of Kaka during the Champions League group draw."
Everyone looked over, curious.
"He turned to me and asked which team I hoped we wouldn't get drawn against. Guess what I told him?"
"Who?" Sneijder asked, grinning.
"I said I didn't care who we drew, because I believe we're strong enough to face anyone."
There were nods and murmurs of agreement.
"Later, Kaka asked me which team I wanted to face the most," Yang Yang continued. "I told him: AC Milan."
That answer raised a few eyebrows around the table. For all their recent success, Ajax was still considered a level below AC Milan.
But the older players—Galásek, Maxwell, and Vermaelen—understood what Yang Yang meant and nodded silently.
"That's the spirit," Sneijder said with a firm nod. "We didn't win the last time we faced them, but it wasn't because we weren't good enough."
Vermaelen leaned forward. "Now that you've said it, I really want to face them again."
"We'd beat them this time," Heitinga added with conviction.
Some of the younger players looked puzzled, so Galásek stepped in to explain.
"A few years ago, AC Milan showed sudden interest in Trabelsi. It wasn't just speculation; they got in his head. The locker room started to fall apart. To be fair, there were already tensions between Ibrahimović and Van der Vaart, but Milan certainly didn't help."
Yang Yang nodded. "Exactly. What they did destabilized our squad. That's why I don't hesitate to bring them up now. For those of us who were here, we remember."
"What did Kaka say after that?" De Jong asked.
Yang Yang smiled. "He said I sounded very vengeful. I told him he was right. And that if we meet them again at the Amsterdam Arena, they should be ready. We're not the same team they beat last time."
Laughter and clapping broke out around the table.
Back then, Ajax had lost 1–0 to Milan at home. Yang Yang had been in the stands, but many of his current teammates—Sneijder, De Jong, Heitinga—were on the pitch that night.
"People keep saying AC Milan is the strongest team in Europe," Yang Yang said. "But so was Liverpool. They came back from three goals down to beat Milan in the Champions League final, and we beat Liverpool in the Super Cup. That tells us where we stand."
Mentioning the Super Cup win seemed to lift the mood even further. The pride in their achievement was visible.
"Even if Milan isn't in our group, that's fine. We'll qualify. And if we top the group, we can face them later, maybe even knock them out. First, we focus on beating Arsenal and finishing first."
He paused, then added with calm confidence, "You don't build belief overnight. You earn it, one match at a time."
Everyone at the table went quiet for a moment, reflecting.
Two years ago, Ajax had barely escaped the group stage. That final match, when Yang Yang scored the winner, had sparked their run to the Champions League title. That season taught them resilience.
"Not just Milan," Yang Yang continued. "We still owe Juventus. And we still owe Bayern for last year. We've taken hits. Now it's our turn."
This time, no one needed convincing. The message was clear—and shared.
They all remembered the 0–4 humiliation in Munich.
Now, they wanted payback.
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...
After a full week of rest and recalibration, Ajax returned to domestic duty with renewed confidence and sharpness. The fatigue from the grueling run of away fixtures—Willem II, Sparta Prague, and AZ Alkmaar—had begun to subside. Physically restored and mentally refocused, the team prepared to host Roda JC at the Amsterdam Arena in the sixth round of the Eredivisie.
Despite having a critical UEFA Champions League fixture against Arsenal looming midweek, Ronald Koeman made a clear statement of intent: he fielded his strongest starting lineup. Ajax would not take any opponent lightly, and the match against Roda JC would be no exception.
Visiting manager Huub Stevens, wary of Ajax's attacking firepower, opted for a defensive 5-4-1 formation. His game plan was conservative—contain Ajax's wide threats, crowd the box, and hope to escape with a point.
But Ajax had other ideas.
From the opening whistle, they launched wave after wave of relentless pressure, attacking with width and tempo. Their focus was clear: exploit Roda JC's vulnerability in aerial duels, particularly through Greek striker Angelos Charisteas. The breakthrough came in the 28th minute. Yang Yang, isolated on the right wing, toyed with his marker using a flurry of step-overs before nutmegging the left-back. He then delivered a precision-driven cross into the six-yard box, where Charisteas rose highest to nod Ajax into the lead.
Twelve minutes later, in the 40th minute, Charisteas struck again. This time, it was Sneijder who floated in a teasing delivery, and the towering forward bullied his way through two defenders to plant a header into the bottom corner. It was his finest performance since joining Ajax.
In the second half, the spotlight returned to Yang Yang. In the 60th minute, now drifting to the left flank, he received a diagonal pass in stride. He immediately went to work: a quick succession of step-overs, followed by a body feint to the outside, sold the defender. With a sharp cut inside, he unleashed a curling shot that bent beyond the outstretched fingertips of the goalkeeper and into the top-right corner. The Amsterdam Arena erupted, and even the commentators couldn't contain their awe at the technical brilliance on display.
With the score at 3–0 and the result seemingly secured, Koeman opted to withdraw his stars. Yang Yang and Sneijder were substituted shortly after, giving the home crowd a chance to applaud their contributions.
Roda JC managed to pull one back in the 81st minute, capitalizing on a momentary lapse in Ajax's defensive organization. But the response from the hosts was swift. In the 86th minute, Galásek combined brilliantly with Ryan Babel at the edge of the box. A quick one-two freed the veteran midfielder, who rifled a low shot from distance into the bottom corner, restoring the three-goal cushion.
The match ended 4–1 in favor of Ajax, a dominant display that reaffirmed their position as title contenders.
Meanwhile, league leaders RKC Waalwijk finally stumbled. At home against Utrecht, they conceded a heartbreaking goal in stoppage time to lose 3–2, ending their five-game winning streak. Ajax's victory, combined with Waalwijk's defeat, meant the Amsterdam club reclaimed top spot in the Eredivisie standings.
Elsewhere, AZ Alkmaar suffered a surprise 2–1 defeat to NAC Breda, marking Van Gaal's side's first loss of the season.
As for the individual honors, Yang Yang's sublime goal against Roda JC brought his league tally to nine, drawing him level with Arveladze at the top of the scoring charts. With five assists to his name as well, he continued to cement his status as the most decisive player in Dutch football.