With videosEdson Álvarez and Mohammed Kudus have given Ajax a lightning start in the Champions League. Precisely the duo that insisted on going to the Premier League last week, the national champion against PSV executioner Rangers FC showed the way to a magical football evening: 4-0.
By Johan Inan
It can go wrong. Where the Ajax supporters still feared the departure of two outstanding playmakers on the last day of the English transfer period, less than a week later at the Champions League kick-off they were treated to an outright party night by the previously mutinous Álvarez and Kudus.
Mainstay Álvarez wanted to go to Chelsea, skipped the field training and let it thunder on the offices of Gerry Hamstra and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for hours. When the technical duo stood their ground, promising that he would really get his transfer later, the Mexican promised to keep going through fire for Ajax. Coach Schreuder, who has grown crazier with the qualities of his diligent controller every week since his arrival, was even impressed by Álvarez’s ambitions and dedication all rolled into one.
And Álvarez kept his word. That became apparent in one half against Cambuur, and completely against Rangers. As if nothing had happened, he led the battle. Precisely the player who also saw his club knock off Chelsea after Valencia, Rennes and Newcastle United, Ajax nodded after more than fifteen minutes in the lead, thus starting a football show. In it, Rangers FC, that the fearful PSV in Eindhoven still blocked the way to the main tournament, was overwhelmed and not given a chance anymore.
Watch how Ajax came to 1-0
The emergence of the corner from which Álvarez (wholly released by James Sands) scored already showed the value of Kudus. As an agile, false striker, he overtook the static central duo of the Scottish Europa League finalist, who had clearly not yet recovered from the ear washing in the Old Firm against Celtic Saturday (4-0 defeat), out of the comfort zone. Or not, because Kudus was available everywhere on the field, always creating surpluses and giving solutions and correct continuations to his team.
It was exactly as his trainer had envisioned it beforehand and why Schreuder surprisingly passed the strong and accurate target Brian Brobbey at the moment supreme. Kudus just craved the base spot. With the World Cup approaching, it was even reason to bet on a transfer. The fact that he was the biggest bright spot in the preparation, always came in very strong and scored four times in a row, was always to no avail.
Until the kick-off of the million-dollar ball, when he wrote an even better story than Álvarez. Not only because he appeared at the kick-off for the first time, but also gave fifty thousand frenzied fans the most beautiful present of the evening. They had just seen another star, Steven Berghuis, double the score with a deflected shot (Sands was again the culprit for Rangers), when the light-footed and agile Ghanaian started a rush. He concluded that dribble over the left wing with a line, which hit the net through the inside of the post: 3-0.
Watch how Ajax came to 2-0
Kudus in particular was the big man, exactly two years after his promising start at Ajax was abruptly interrupted by a meniscus injury in his CL debut against Liverpool. He then went from one injury to another for two seasons. This also made a departure more likely. But Kudus, reluctantly, stayed to kick-start his second career with Ajax against Rangers.
With the other mutineer, Álvarez, he got a crowd change in the final phase. Shortly after Steven Bergwijn had determined the final score at 4-0, there was a standing ovation in the Arena. The players who sparked fear and anger a week ago filled the Arena with joy and hope.
Watch how Ajax came to 3-0
Watch how Ajax came to 4-0
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