‘The way football should be played!’: Fans rave after Ajax youngsters produce stunning 12-pass ‘Total Football’ move against Juventus
- Ajax’s young players showed off their ‘Total Football’ philosophy away in Turin
- Erik ten Hag’s players produced a 12-pass move from back to front in 20 seconds
- Football fans on social media were left raving about the side’s fearlessness
Ajax had football fans waxing lyrical after they produced a ‘Total Football’ passing sequence in just 20 seconds.
Instead of looking for a long ball against a Juventus side that boasted a height advantage, Erik ten Hag’s side showed no fear as they produced a 12-pass sequence that saw them go from goalkeeper Andre Onana to striker Dusan Tadic.
The Dutch giants produced another Champions League upset by knocking Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus out to reach the semi-finals.
Ajax produced an impressive 12-pass ‘Total Football’ move from goalkeeper to the striker
The slick one touch passage of play showed that Ajax’s young squad stick to their principles
Juventus’ players could not keep pace with the back-to-front move as Ajax drove forwards
Every player showed for the ball and it would have been a stunning move had it made a goal
Juventus looked exposed in the second half as Ajax produced a ‘Total Football’ masterclass
Total football is a tactical philosophy that has long been followed by Ajax as they look to develop players in their style.
The model allows players to take over the role of any other player in their side as they squeeze up the pitch.
Ajax legend Johan Cruyff’s twitter account was delighted to see ten Hag stick with the philosophy in pressure matches.
After breaking into the Juventus area, Lasse Schone got his head up to pick out David Neres
Neres in turn flicked it to Dusan Tadic as he decided to take aim at Wojciech Szczesny in goal
Juventus successfully blocked the shot for a corner to give themselves temporary respite
‘Playing football is very simple,’ Cruyff said. ‘But playing simple football is the hardest thing there is #CruyffLegacy.’
The ball was at the feet of goalkeeper Onana with the clock at 56 minutes before it was shifted out wide to right back Joel Veltman.
Barcelona-bound Frenkie de Jong then offered himself for the ball after Veltman lifted his head up and the £65million midfielder drove the visitors forward thereafter.
He then played a neat one-two with midfield partner Lasse Schone as Juventus appeared in awe at the one touch passing move.
Hakim Ziyech then gets involved with a neat ball to David Neres, who in turn flicks it to Dusan Tadic, before the former Southampton winger eventually sees an effort at goal blocked, taking away the possibility of a near-perfect goal.
Ajax stunned Juventus, who beat them in the Champions League final in 1996, to progress
Football fans were left raving about the passing move as they urged more clubs to follow suit
Twitter user Lockey Doran insisted ‘Total football good to watch’ after watching the clip online
The move quickly gathered attention on social media with many football fans moaning that their teams do not have the bravery to follow ‘Total Football’.
One user tweeted: ‘The way football should be played!’ while another added that ‘Total Football is good to watch.’
The game plan was made famous by Holland in the 1974 World Cup and has been part of the culture in the country ever since.
While that particular move did not lead to a goal, Ajax continued to be brave against Ronaldo and Co and got their rewards as goals from Donny van de Beek and Matthias de Ligt ensured progression to the Champions League semi-finals.