Tuesday’s historic win in the Bernabeu has all of Europe applauding the new generation of Ajax youngsters, while Real Madrid appear to have lurched into a major crisis. But it is not that long since the Netherlands’ most celebrated club was in a major crisis of its own. You’re either with Van Den Boog or with me, Cruyff allegedly said — referring to the general manager and former Ajax youth player who had been appointed to oversee a management reform. There are also others to come, such as Ryan Gravenberch, who became the youngest-ever Ajax first-team player in September at the age of 16. Ajax still have some way to go to become the youth production line of old.

Source: Irish Examiner March 07, 2019 05:48 UTC