This Isn't Over!

As the brightest star in Ajax's Youth Training Camp, Ryan Babel was in a foul mood.

He had initially thought Almere would be an easy opponent, but unexpectedly, they were a tough nut to crack.

John Rep still lined up a 4-3-3 Formation for this match, but in reality, only the right winger, Yang Yang, was pushed up front. The other players formed three tight defensive lines, stationed around the thirty-meter zone in their own half.

This created a huge obstacle for Ajax's attack.

As the team's number-one star, Ryan Babel was also being closely marked by the opposition, making it difficult for him to show what he could do. He was secretly growing anxious, his eyes repeatedly sweeping toward the shabby Presidential Tribune.

The First Team's Chief Assistant Coach, Rudd Carroll, and the Youth Team's Head Coach, Marco van Basten, were both sitting there. These two men could determine the direction of his future career, so Babel naturally hoped to put on an excellent performance in front of them and fight for a place in the First Team next season.

But unexpectedly, Almere's defense was extremely meticulous. Did they really look like an under-eighteen team?

As the center forward, Babel was tightly marked by Almere and found it difficult to receive the ball, let alone make use of his advantages in speed and technique. Seeing that his team's passes could hardly penetrate the opposition's defense, he decisively moved toward the flank.

Back when he was in the Youth Team, Van Basten had encouraged him. "Keep working hard. You can become the next Thierry Henry."

Those words had always motivated Babel. Thus, although he was right-footed, he preferred to operate on the left wing.

That was Henry's strongest area.

Ajax's players worked together with perfect understanding. The moment Babel moved to the flank, the others immediately understood and appropriately slowed their attack, giving Almere a chance to breathe. In reality, however, they were preparing their next wave of offense.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Babel, who had moved wide, seized an opening in Almere's lax defense and cut in from the left into the penalty area. He got an excellent chance to shoot, but unfortunately, he failed to make proper contact with the ball and missed a golden scoring opportunity.

It was the thirteenth minute of the first half.

After successfully creating a dangerous opportunity, everyone on Ajax grew even more spirited, and they soon launched another wave of attacks like a surging tide.

The difference in strength between the two sides was enormous. The area in front of Almere's goal was filled with danger, and their defense was already tottering on the verge of collapse.

Yang Yang waited desperately up front for a pass from his teammates in midfield and defense, but he found that this was difficult.

At the very least, it was much harder than Head Coach John Rep had expected before the match.

Ajax had clearly come into this match determined to defeat Almere away from home. Combined with the huge gap in strength between the two teams, this left Almere with very few chances.

He desperately wanted to help the team, but Ajax simply did not give him the opportunity.

Thomas Vermaelen and Urby Emanuelson were constantly roaming around him. On top of that, most of his own team's midfield and defensive players were focused on defending, making it difficult for Yang Yang to receive the ball. Naturally, he could not help the team either.

"I have to do something." Yang Yang muttered to himself.

He felt that he could not keep waiting helplessly.

So he chose to drop back and defend.

"The gap in strength between the two teams is simply too large."

Seeing Yang Yang begin retreating to his own half to defend, John Rep shook his head and sighed helplessly.

The huge gap in overall strength left Almere with no options at all. They could only defend, even bunker down completely.

The situation on the field was worse than their pre-match assessment. Clearly, Van Basten, Rudd Carroll, and the others' arrival had greatly stimulated Ajax's players, boosting both their fighting spirit and their commitment to the match. This was something John Rep had been unable to anticipate beforehand.

"What do we do now?" Dick Van Pool asked anxiously.

John Rep could only shake his head helplessly.

With the match in this state, as the team's Head Coach, there was very little he could do. They could only rely on the players on the field.

The team had made it to the sixth round and eliminated teams such as Volendam before directly challenging Ajax. No matter what happened, they could be said to have lost with honor. He only hoped that they would not lose too disgracefully.

Another Ajax attack had been stopped, but the ball was quickly passed back out of Almere's thirty-meter zone. Maduro received it in the middle.

Ajax's attacking Trident in this match consisted of Fedi Elmas, Ryan Babel, and Tom De Mul, while Amrabat and Abolah were positioned on either side of Maduro in midfield.

After Sneijder and De Jong had been called up to the First Team, this was already Ajax's Youth Team's strongest lineup.

Facing the Youth Team of third-tier side Almere, everyone at Ajax was brimming with confidence. Even though they had failed to take control of the match immediately, most of the players were not anxious. They continued to firmly suppress their opponents and patiently waited for an opportunity.

But every one of them yearned to use their performance to convince the two people sitting in the Presidential Tribune.

Maduro was no exception.

As the team's midfield core, he quickly raised his right hand after receiving the ball, signaling for his teammates to stay calm. He controlled the tempo leisurely, but after passing the ball to Amrabat, he spotted an opening and immediately surged forward, raising his hand again to call for the ball.

The ball quickly returned to Maduro's feet, but he did not stop it. With one touch, he sent a diagonal pass toward the left side of the penalty area. Babel, who was playing center forward, moved wide once again, beat the Almere player to the ball, and stopped it for Fedi Elmas before pointing inward with his hand.

Elmas understood immediately and passed the ball toward the left side of the arc at the top of the penalty area. Babel, who had originally been on the left wing, suddenly burst forward like a nimble cheetah, quickly shaking off his marker and chasing after the ball at full speed.

From Maduro's diagonal pass to the flank, to Babel controlling the ball and laying it back, and then to Elmas's cross, the entire sequence consisted of smooth, practiced one-touch passing. Ajax's players displayed not only outstanding individual ability but also the principles of Ajax's Youth Training Camp.

When everyone saw Babel shake off his marker and charge toward the ball, countless fans gasped in shock.

The area around the edge of the penalty area was completely unguarded!

Van Basten had hailed this Ajax wonderkid as a second Henry. As a right-footed player, letting him receive the ball on the left side of the penalty arc was incredibly dangerous.

But everything happened in the blink of an eye. By the time Almere's players reacted and tried to chase back, it was already too late.

Nick, the closest player, had just begun to shake off Elmas and turn to chase back when a figure suddenly flashed past him, cutting diagonally after the ball. His speed was even slightly greater than Babel's, despite Babel having planned the move in advance.

Babel focused on counting his steps and adjusted his stride, his eyes fixed firmly on Almere's goalkeeper. When he reached the ball, he planted his left foot and drew back his right leg. He felt better than ever. He knew that if he got this shot away, he was almost certain to score.

This one has to go in!

But just as he was brimming with confidence and certain of victory, he suddenly sensed something was wrong. Before he could react, he saw someone get there first, darting out from beside him and beating him to the ball by a step. The player stuck out his foot and poked it away.

At the critical moment, just before the shot, his chance had been destroyed.

Furious, Babel did not pull his foot back and instead planted it solidly into the opponent's calf.

Yang Yang had just sprinted back from a distance to defend. He fell to the ground. Before he could celebrate his crucial clearance, he was struck in the calf, and a sharp pain shot through him. He immediately let out a scream.

Henk Dimer, Nick, and the others nearby instantly lost their tempers and all rushed at Babel. The Ajax players immediately crowded around as well, shielding their teammate first.

The referee blew his whistle at the right moment. He first went over to check on Yang Yang and, after confirming that he had only been kicked in the calf and was not seriously injured, stood up and walked toward Babel, reaching into the pocket over his chest.

A yellow card!

Not only that, the referee sternly warned Babel to control his temper. Otherwise, he would not hesitate to give him another one.

The Ajax prodigy glared at the Almere players. Without even looking at Yang Yang, who was still lying on the ground, he turned and walked away.

Thomas Vermaelen, Maduro, and several other Ajax players instead came over to check on Yang Yang's injury. Only after he got up did everyone disperse and prepare to restart the match.

"If he doesn't change that personality, it will ruin him sooner or later."

In the Presidential Tribune, after seeing Ryan Babel kick Yang Yang in the calf and then turn away angrily without any grace after receiving a yellow card from the referee, Van Basten shook his head and sighed.

Failing to pull back and kicking a defender in the natural follow-through was a minor foul, something very common in professional matches. Even if Babel received a yellow card, no one would blame him. But after kicking someone, he had not taken the initiative to help his opponent up. That proved he had truly lost his temper, and that was the most serious problem.

Van Basten was indeed very optimistic about this player. He had speed, technique, a good build, and good height. As long as he kept working hard and improving, he would surely have a bright future. That was why Van Basten had used Henry to motivate him.

But Babel's biggest problem was his personality. Even within Ajax, he seemed unable to fit in.

That had not been obvious in the Youth Team. But once he reached the First Team, whether he could get along with his teammates and integrate into the dressing room would be extremely important.

Yang Yang, by contrast, had received immediate support from his teammates after being kicked. Several Ajax players, including Vermaelen, Emanuelson, and Maduro, had come over to check on him. He also did not appear to blame anyone, instead thanking the Ajax players for their concern.

All of that was a sign of maturity. Compared with him, Babel fell far short.

"This Yang Yang is truly surprising. He actually took the initiative to drop back from the front line to defend near the edge of the penalty area, and at the critical moment, he even dared to risk getting kicked to make that crucial clearance. That's not easy at all." Rudd Carroll grew more fond of him the longer he watched.

Ronald Koeman's preferences in players were very similar to Van Gaal's. He liked players with strong tactical discipline. As the First Team's Chief Assistant Coach, Rudd Carroll naturally understood that.

Tony Brown Slots, by contrast, looked at Yang Yang, who was bending over and massaging the calf of his right leg on the field, and said worriedly, "I hope he isn't injured."

But on the field, Yang Yang massaged his calf while lifting his head to look at the opponents ahead. A trace of ruthlessness flashed through his eyes.

"This isn't over!"