It is impossible not to look at him. If only because the cameramen do that too. They follow all his movements. As if their cameras are pre-programmed for the entrance and the warm-up of the man who has been talked about so often in recent days: Erling Haaland. Some got tired of it. So often.
Erik ten Hag, for example. From his words at the press conference beforehand, it appeared on Monday that the Ajax coach thought it was a bit disproportionate, all that attention for that one Borussia Dortmund player. The coming opponent in the Champions League had more than one footballer from whom Ajax had something to fear. But not only that. Above all, his players want to measure themselves with the best, as Ten Hag emphasized. Fear of an opponent…? And they asked a man whose side on enemy soil had outclassed Juventus and Real Madrid without any awe of their trophy cabinets.
However, Tuesday was no different. Again, it was mainly about Borussia’s bear in the run-up to the clash in the Arena. Ajax supporters who passed the Hyatt Regency during the day where the German club had spent the night noted on social media that he couldn’t smile when he got into the players’ bus. This also applied to his teammates, who looked just as sullen when they left the star hotel.
Blissful faces
City broadcaster AT5 later came up with an item about him. The reporter had interviewed some supporters who had been waiting for him for a selfie after the warm-up training at the Amstelveen RAP. Blissful faces because it worked. “It was really special, I’m really happy it worked out,” said one of them, adding that they hoped he wouldn’t score.
Haaland had posed next to the boys without flinching. The luscious head of hair hid under a towel he hadn’t taken off. Underneath, an imperturbable gaze. A photo because I had to. As part of his profession.
About six hours later, as the famed Champions League anthem reverberates through the Arena, the long blond mane is once again invisible. They are tied together in a bun. One that children in Dortmund, Norway and probably many other places will also have themselves measured. Because of him.
What strikes? His posture. Not only his height, that 194 centimeters with which he will tower over many Ajax players this evening – his guard Lisandro Martínez measures 19 centimeters less. No, it is mainly the long strides, the deadly serious look, the inflated chest with which he, again, attracts the attention of the cameramen. As if at any moment he transforms into a Marvel creation, caliber Hulk, although Ten Hag will probably find that comparison exaggerated. Especially with the wisdom from after this match.
Once the ball rolls, it soon becomes apparent that his players are not afraid of Borussia’s twice as valuable team. Within ten minutes, when the smoke from dozens of torches has cleared in both the home and away sections, Ajax’s winger Antony is face to face with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. He misses. Even then.
A minute later it’s done. A twisting free kick from captain and veteran Dusan Tadic is headed over by Dortmund’s most experienced player, Marco Reus, before the ball enters the far corner. Behind him, that one Borussia attacker shakes his head. And not for the last time this evening.
Ajax plays football with bravado. Nothing shows that Dortmund is a more dangerous team on paper, Ajax talks so convincingly on top of it. 2-0 after 25 minutes. A lovely shot from Daley Blind. While Ajax is staging a manifestation of opportunities, Dortmund is unable to pass Remko Pasveer. Not even Haland. Not even after he throws Jurriën Timber off like a wrestler just before halftime.
After rest: the same game picture. Again a lot of bravado at Ajax, again two goals. The first is from Antony, who gracefully curls him in and gives the people the entertainment they came for throughout the match. The second comes from striker Sébastien Haller, who ends the match with a header. Ajax can no longer miss the lead in group C.
Fists of Pasveer
In the vanguard at Dortmund, Haaland must be biting at that moment. As easy as he has scored in the Bundesliga for two years (49 times in 49 matches), it is so difficult now. The crossbar, Pasveer’s fists, opponents who don’t play him well. It won’t work.
In short, it was not the evening of Erling Braut Haaland, the 21-year-old top scorer whose reputation had preceded him. He could not live up to that reputation in the Arena.
And if anyone had dared to predict that it could go like this, that Haaland and the great Borussia would be neutralized, it was Erik ten Hag, the trainer who uses his own strength. And with the 4-0 win he was right.
A version of this article also appeared in NRC in the morning of October 20, 2021
#Dominant #Ajax #outclasses #Borussia #Dortmund