Chapter 40

Ibrahimović's buoyant mood was short-lived. Following the third round of Champions League qualifying, Ajax clashed with Vitesse in their inaugural Eredivisie match, with Yang Yang and Vermaelen watching the action unfold on television.

The game began poorly for Ajax. Within just 13 minutes, Vitesse's defender Purrel Fränkel assisted striker Matthew Amoah for the opening goal. Ajax struggled to equalize until Fränkel's unfortunate own goal ten minutes later, leveling the score.

It was Victor Sikora who entered the match, replacing Ibrahimović in the 63rd minute. Koeman made further tactical adjustments, introducing Tom Soetaers for Wamberto and Nigel De Jong for Steven Pienaar. In the 87th minute, Sneijder found the back of the net, securing a hard-fought victory for Ajax.

With two consecutive wins, Sneijder emerged as Ajax's savior at the season's outset, overshadowing figures like van der Vaart and the underperforming Ibrahimović.

The opening rounds of the season are notoriously challenging. Ajax's away triumph and three crucial points were well-earned. Meanwhile, PSV Eindhoven drew 2-2 away against Roda JC, and Feyenoord's 2-1 home victory over NEC Nijmegen highlighted a competitive start to the campaign.

Upon returning to Amsterdam after the away fixture, Ibrahimović's demeanor soured. Reports circulated of stern admonishments from Coach Koeman and Technical Director Van Gaal, leaving him visibly frustrated.

In the second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round, Ibrahimović broke the deadlock at home against Grazer AK in the 15th minute, connecting with a cross from Maxwell, his longtime friend. This marked his inaugural Champions League goal of the season.

Ajax's lapse in defense just before halftime allowed Grazer AK to equalize. Despite their best efforts, Ajax failed to reclaim the lead within regulation time, leading to an extra-time deadlock at 1-1.

In the 104th minute, Grazer AK's Anton Ehmann committed a foul in the penalty area and received a straight red card. Veteran Galásek capitalized on the opportunity, calmly converting the penalty to secure a 3-2 victory for Ajax, propelling them into the Champions League group stage.

The exhilarating victory brought immense relief to the entire team, yet it was swiftly overshadowed by media criticism directed at De Toekomst.

Since the season's outset, Ajax has grappled with offensive inefficiencies and frequent defensive lapses, a stark departure from their consistent performances last season.

Across three matches—two victories and a draw—Ajax netted five goals while conceding three. Though seemingly respectable, this tally includes an own goal and two unexpected strikes that secured crucial league and Champions League qualification points.

It's evident that without these unexpected contributions, Ajax's record would have been significantly different.

More concerning is their defense, which has averaged conceding one goal per game against ostensibly weaker opponents. This instability raises doubts about their ability to contend, particularly against formidable sides like Hiddink's Eindhoven.

Following the match, Koeman addressed the media, expressing satisfaction with Ajax's season start. He acknowledged the team's transitional phase following the departures of Van der Meyde and Chivu, emphasizing the need for patience during the rebuilding process.

Nevertheless, Koeman issued a stern admonition to the players, underscoring the urgency for everyone to find their stride and perform at peak levels. He made it unequivocally clear that underperforming players would not feature in his starting lineup—an unequivocal message likely to spur the first-team squad into action.

...

...

With the first team's recent results weighing heavily on their minds, Ajax's second team undertook a tense afternoon training session. Tomorrow, they faced an away game against , their first match of the new season. Coupled with the first team's lackluster performances, the media scrutiny only added to the players' burden.

Coach Van Basten stood silently on the sidelines throughout the training session, his mere presence speaking volumes amid the palpably uneasy atmosphere.

By midday, the 18-man squad had been finalized and posted in the dressing room, clearly delineating who had made the cut and who hadn't. There was a mix of joy and disappointment among the players.

With over 20 players vying for just 18 spots and only 11 starters to be chosen, the competition was undeniably fierce.

However, this was only the second team, slated to face an amateur side in the first knockout round of the KNVB Cup. If they struggled with this pressure, how would they handle the immense expectations placed upon the first team?

Under the weight of expectations, the players' training mirrored their psychological state, a fact not lost on Van Basten and his assistants. Each player's ability to perform under pressure needed careful evaluation.

"Have you made your decision?" Rob Witschge asked him.

A lifelong friend from their days at Ajax youth academy, Witschge and Van Basten had forged a deep bond despite Witschge's history with Feyenoord, Ajax's rivals.

"The match is in the afternoon, and he still has morning lessons. I think it's best for him to start on the bench," Van Basten replied, his gaze fixed on Yang Yang on the training pitch.

In less than two weeks, Yang Yang had fully assimilated into the team's training regime. He meticulously followed the coaching staff's instructions and never let up during the sessions. After training, he was one of the few who stayed behind to work on his own skills. Although Van Basten never praised him explicitly, he was well aware of Yang Yang's dedication.

While talent was valuable, Van Basten believed that hard work was the most precious quality in the vast world of football. Besides, he reasoned, who could accurately judge a person's potential?

"This boy is a promising talent. If he keeps developing like this, I'm sure he'll be a first-team regular," said Witschge.

Having expressed his thoughts, Witschge looked at Van Basten and sensed his hesitation. "Should I tell him the news?"

Van Basten shook his head firmly. "No, I'll do it myself."

As a former professional player, Van Basten felt it was his duty to take responsibility for his team selection. He believed in personally informing the players of their status and explaining his decisions. He had once come across a coach who delegated such tasks to assistants, a practice he found inappropriate and disrespectful.

He intended to speak not only to Yang Yang, but to every player who was left out of the squad. Even if they didn't make the cut, he wanted them to understand his reasons and what they could do to improve their chances.

Witschge nodded in understanding. This match was not only the first game of the new season for Ajax's second team - it also marked the beginning of Van Basten's coaching career.

...

...

As usual, Yang Yang and Vermaelen took the initiative to stay and train after the afternoon session.

Yang Yang started with the basics and later focused on volleying and receiving the ball with Vermaelen. They practiced routine crosses and engaged in one-on-one attacking and defending drills.

Mastering skills akin to Ronaldo's, especially the step-over, Yang Yang began practicing continuous changes of direction and other movements that made it challenging for Vermaelen to defend one-on-one, lowering his success rate in defense—a testament to Yang Yang's progress.

However, the Belgian center-back was not one to be easily outdone. Through continuous training, his defensive abilities also saw rapid improvement. Recognizing that frontal defense alone wouldn't suffice against Yang Yang, he began employing alternative defensive strategies, always finding ways to unsettle Yang Yang.

The two monitored their progress as they faced off against each other.

With daily training, Yang Yang gained a deeper understanding and mastery of skills akin to Beckham's, a sensation difficult to articulate but evident in his improved execution.

Facts also attested to the growing reliability of his passing.

Yang Yang was about to tease his teammates after Vermaelen's pass went astray when he heard Van Basten's voice from the touchline. "Come on, pass to me. Let's give it a try."

When Yang Yang saw Van Basten rushing into the training ground in a training suit, he wanted to be polite. Haha smiled and kicked a long cross before sending the ball into the large penalty area. When he saw Van Basten, he sniffed the ball and fired it into the back of the net, followed by another arcing cross that sent the Dutch legend scrambling for the top corner.

Vermaelen and Yang Yang were thrilled to have Van Basten join them in person. The Belgian defender passed the ball to Yang Yang, who delivered crosses for Van Basten to head into the net.

Throughout the session, Van Basten meticulously pointed out nuances in Yang Yang's passes. Despite being a striker, Van Basten's exceptional footwork and insightful perspectives on crossing techniques provided invaluable guidance. He analyzed each cross from a striker's viewpoint, ensuring they were precise in landing, trajectory, and power, enhancing Yang Yang's performance significantly.

Van Basten's visit extended Yang Yang's training well into the night as he eagerly absorbed every piece of advice from his idol. Even Vermaelen benefited greatly from the session.

After a rigorous training session that left them both sweating profusely, Van Basten expressed his satisfaction and promised to train with Yang Yang again in the future, much to the delight of both players.

For tomorrow's match, Yang Yang accepted Van Basten's decision with full support, acknowledging that he had just recently joined the team. It would be inappropriate for him to start ahead of Tom de Mul, a young academy graduate who had been in the first-team camp over the summer and thus held more seniority.

However, Van Basten assured Yang Yang that regardless of the match's outcome, he would be given a significant opportunity to prove himself with at least 30 minutes of playing time.

This upcoming game would serve as a crucial test for the right-wing position, pitting Yang Yang against De Mul for the first time.

...

...

That night at Oude Kerk, Ibrahimović couldn't suppress his smile after scoring his first goal of the season. His grin widened even further as he spoke about his rival and teammate, Van der Vaart.

"Hah, you should have seen Van der Vaart's face after the game—his whole expression was dark."

Seated across from him, Yang Yang couldn't help but recall the saying: "The villain achieves his ambitions." Vermaelen, Maxwell, and their agent Mino Raiola looked on helplessly, seemingly conveying to Yang Yang and Vermaelen: "We barely know this guy."

But Ibrahimović continued to chuckle heartily. Once you got to know him, you realized that was just his demeanor.

Mino Raiola, the Italian agent, had arrived in Amsterdam the previous day. Though he hadn't represented Ibrahimović for long, he had swiftly forged a strong bond with the Swedish striker. Whenever Ibrahimović encountered an issue, Raiola would fly to Amsterdam to resolve it.

According to Ibrahimović, since switching agents at the end of July, Raiola had been actively approaching Serie A clubs where he held considerable connections. However, no club had yet made a concrete offer.

"Maybe it's because you've only scored one goal in three games. The big clubs aren't easily impressed," Raiola remarked, tempering Ibrahimović's self-assurance.

The Swedish forward smiled confidently in response, stating, "It's only the beginning of the league. I haven't hit my peak form yet."

With pride, he thumped his chest and added, "Mino, just watch. My goal tally this season will surpass last season's for sure. I won't disappoint you."

Last season, Ibrahimović scored 13 goals in 25 Eredivisie appearances, finishing second in the league behind Van der Vaart. He also netted five goals in the Champions League, showcasing his prowess.

Given his consistent performances over the past two seasons at Ajax, expectations were high for his performance this season, especially at just 21 years old.

"Don't just fixate on getting even with Van der Vaart or leaving Ajax prematurely. If you want the top clubs to pay top dollar for you, you need to deliver better offensive statistics and score more goals. Do you understand?" Raiola cautioned.

"I know, I know. You've said that a million times," Ibrahimović pouted. "Losing van der Meyde in the front line this season has been a significant issue. The right side isn't as effective now."

In the recent Champions League match, Ibrahimović's goal came from a cross by left-back Maxwell. Otherwise, opportunities for the Swedish striker were scarce.

The primary concern lies in the clash of playing styles between him and Van der Vaart. Van der Vaart, Ajax's star player, dictates attacking play and distributes the ball upfront. He prefers a central role, just behind the striker, which conflicts with Ibrahimović's desire to be involved in the build-up.

Both Ronald Koeman and Van Gaal are hopeful that Ibrahimović will adjust his game, reducing unnecessary drops to collect the ball and increasing his presence in the box to enhance his goal-scoring threat. This transition to a more traditional striker role has been favored by Ajax in recent years. However, Ibrahimović, with his unique style, shows no intention of conforming.

On the other hand, Wesley Sonck may not match Ibrahimović in height or strength, but he aligns better with Ajax's desired attributes. Yet, he still hasn't fully integrated into the team.

Ibrahimović refused to adapt, while Van der Vaart, the team's star player, also stood firm. Their previous clash over captaincy compounded matters, leading to conflicts on the pitch and resulting in subpar performances from both. In the first three games of the new season, Van der Vaart struggled, whereas Sneijder's straightforward style and attacking prowess allowed him to shine.

Reflecting on this, Yang Yang realized that success for a player in a team requires time and the right conditions.

"Okay, I understand you want to attract offers from big clubs. How you approach it is up to you," Raiola said, spreading his hands helplessly. "I'll do my best to create opportunities in Italy, but you need to perform consistently for me to negotiate with top clubs."

"Don't worry, there won't be any problems," the Swedish striker assured confidently.

It was evident that given the chance, he would leave Ajax without hesitation. Yang Yang, Vermaelen, and Maxwell understood this sentiment well.

...

...

After seeing off Ibrahimović, Maxwell, and Raiola, Yang Yang excused himself with a pretext of reading books, locked himself in his room, and delved straight into the Dream training system.

Though he had no immediate plans to leave Ajax, overhearing Ibrahimović and Raiola's conversation had deeply inspired him. He felt a renewed determination to continue improving and earn a spot in the first team as soon as possible.

At his age, sitting on the bench would only strengthen his resolve; he needed game time, as much as possible.

"Zax, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"If I give you a player's general characteristics—like height, weight, physical condition, and playing style—could you create a virtual representation of that player to help me train?" Yang Yang asked anxiously.

The idea had struck him during the team's pre-match tactical meeting that afternoon.

After all, Ajax was a Dutch powerhouse. While the resources for the second team were considerably fewer compared to the first team, they were still far superior to smaller clubs like Almere. Before every match, they held tactical meetings discussing opponents' characteristics and strategies for easier victories. However, the tactical intelligence was notably lower compared to the first team; for instance, there was no video analysis of games.

However, based on scout reports, Yang Yang knew little about the upcoming game's left-back, Pier Tash, a 21-year-old local from Spakenburg. The data and playing habits of Tash were studied in great detail. This information merely gave Yang Yang a superficial impression.

Yet, upon receiving this data, Yang Yang's mind raced. Could such a player be simulated in the Dream Training System to aid in his training, providing a preview in advance?

Once inside the Dream Training System, Yang Yang posed this question to Zax.

"Theoretically, I can simulate any player for your training based on the information you provide. The more detailed the information, the higher the fidelity. If you can even provide video footage of his matches, I can simulate him directly," Zax replied in his usual mechanical tone.

"But I must caution you that the game is ever-changing, and players adapt randomly. Such simulations are only to familiarize yourself with opponents and shouldn't be relied upon too heavily."

"I understand," Yang Yang replied confidently.

He knew it was merely a tool, but for him, it was more than enough.

In the past, whether in Almere's youth team or amateur games, Yang Yang only knew his opponents by name before each match. The rest was a mystery.

But now, things had changed. Ajax's extensive scouting system employed dedicated scouts who thoroughly analyzed upcoming opponents, providing detailed information to both the team and players. This undoubtedly gave Yang Yang a significant advantage. Familiarizing himself with opponents in advance through the Dream Training System would boost his confidence for the upcoming match.

"Exactly, Zax. On the eve of every match, our training program will adjust slightly. Alongside basic drills and practice on Ronaldo's and Beckham's skills, we'll incorporate simulations of our next opponents," Yang Yang explained.

"Okay, I'll make the adjustments immediately," Zax agreed promptly.

Yang Yang realized that knowing basic information about opponents wasn't enough. Moving forward, he aimed to gather more detailed insights about players to simulate their defensive strategies and coordinated tactics accurately. Such simulations would make his training sessions more realistic and targeted, crucial as one-on-one opportunities became scarcer at higher levels of play.

With his decision made, Yang Yang dove into training.

After four months of specialized training, Yang Yang's foundational skills had notably improved, yet he remained dedicated to daily practice. Time spent in the Dream Training System was precious, making basic drills merely a warm-up. The focus now sharpened on honing his two star skills, reinforced by simulated practice sessions.

Although it was the night before the match, Yang Yang believed even this last-minute preparation would positively impact his performance.

The next morning, after a strenuous night's training in the Dream Training System, Yang Yang woke up feeling energized.

As usual, he juggled the ball while walking through the eastern part of the city, jogged around Lake Odekerke, and after working up a good sweat, bought breakfast. He purchased an extra portion for Raiola, mindful of hosting his guest properly.

Returning home with breakfast, Yang Yang found Raiola standing by the window in Ibrahimovic's living room, observing him with a novel expression tinged with concern.

"He's the most hardworking player I've ever seen," Ibrahimovic remarked with genuine admiration.

Raiola's lips curled into a smile. Turning to the Swedish striker, he commented, "If you had half his determination and effort, things would be much easier for you now."

Ibrahimovic pouted and muttered, "I've worked hard, alright?"

Raiola looked unconvinced, then glanced over just as Yang Yang closed the door and entered the house.