Less than a minute into the game, Leeds United intercepted the ball in their own half and launched a quick counterattack.
Kimmich played a through ball to Mbappe on the left flank of the attacking third. The French star dribbled past the defenders and cut diagonally toward the left side of the penalty arc before unleashing a powerful shot that grazed the left post and went out of play.
The shot came suddenly, with both power and angle perfectly executed.
Although it didn't result in a goal, it gave the more than 50,000 Ajax fans in the stadium a real scare.
This was a clear sign that tonight's match was going to be thrilling.
As expected, Ajax showed no signs of conservatism against Leeds United.
Van de Beek quickly linked up with Neres in the attacking third before sending the ball to the right side of Leeds United's penalty area. Neres made a run and fired a low shot, but Alisson rushed out to make the save.
Then, both teams launched into a fast-paced offensive battle.
They created chances almost every minute, with some spectacular shots drawing gasps from the crowd. The game was filled with twists and excitement.
It was evident that Ajax's defense wasn't solid, so they adopted an aggressive approach, relentlessly attacking Leeds United's backline. Ruben Dias and De Ligt, the central defensive pair, were constantly under pressure.
Both sides were in difficult situations, but neither could find the net early on.
...
"What a fantastic match!"
Gao Shen sat in the VIP section, repeatedly praising the action.
From the very start, his attention never wavered. The game was fast-paced from the first whistle.
Neither side played defensively.
Ajax lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with the midfield shaped into a triangle. Van de Beek played the number 10 role, pushing forward in attack.
Neres, Tadic, and Ziyech formed the attacking trident up front.
Frenkie de Jong and Daley Blind orchestrated the midfield, while full-backs Tagliafico and Mazraoui constantly pushed forward to support the attack.
This setup clearly reflected Ajax's emphasis on speed and agility.
The players' quick passing, excellent ball control, and sharp movement created a distinct playing style.
Leeds United also fielded their strongest lineup.
With Mbappe, Vardy, and Dembele forming the front three, Milinkovic and Bernardo Silva in midfield, and Kimmich dropping back, their attacking midfield and forward lines were exceptionally strong. Not to mention the offensive threat posed by full-backs Robertson and Arnold.
Leeds United's attack was more complete and dangerous than Ajax's.
For example, in the 7th minute, Vardy unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area that nearly found the net, but Onana made a miraculous save.
With both sides attacking and counterattacking in rapid succession, the match was bound to be exhilarating, and goals would surely come.
Ajax's attacking style was fluid and skillful, but there was a clear weakness.
Aerial presence.
In the 9th minute, Mazraoui, whom Gao Shen had been closely watching, made an impressive forward run.
Whether it was a tactical arrangement from the coach or simply his own instincts from his midfield background, Mazraoui frequently made overlapping runs before cutting inside. Meanwhile, Ziyech would drop deep and drift wide, hugging the right sideline.
Mazraoui surged into Leeds United's territory, then suddenly passed to Ziyech, who had dropped back. After releasing the ball, he cut diagonally into the left side of Leeds United's penalty area—the exact space Ziyech had just vacated.
Ziyech quickly returned the pass.
Robertson failed to intercept in time. Mazraoui beat his marker, reached the byline, and delivered a low cross.
Tadic met the ball at the near post, but due to De Ligt's close marking, his shot went high over the crossbar.
If Ajax had a tall target man in the box, this type of delivery could be dangerous.
Of course, although De Ligt lost the optimal position, his defense was still effective.
"Back then, we had high hopes for this kid. But unfortunately…" Van der Sar said with a sigh.
That was in 2015, when De Ligt was just 16. He skipped a level to join Ajax's U19 youth team and made a name for himself at the Future Cup and the Amsterdam Invitational, winning Best Player in both tournaments.
He was a top prospect that everyone at Ajax believed in. The club should have nurtured and developed him carefully.
However, Ajax performed poorly in the 2015 summer transfer window.
Looking back, 2015 was their lowest transfer revenue in recent years—only 6 million euros, and that was in installments, which was far from enough to cover the financial gap.
At that time, Leeds United came knocking with an offer for Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong. De Jong had just transferred from Willem II and was already 18. Both players had shone with the Dutch youth national team.
Ajax chose to sell De Ligt because Leeds United offered 5 million euros in cash, a deal they couldn't refuse.
Of course, Leeds United rejected Ajax's request for a resale percentage.
In hindsight, keeping Frenkie de Jong was the right decision. The mistake was not pushing for a resale clause on De Ligt just to gain an extra 1.5 million euros.
Gao Shen chuckled after hearing Van der Sar's remark.
"If that's the case, I really regret not signing Frenkie de Jong back then."
Everyone laughed.
That's just how football is sometimes.
After the joke, Gao Shen turned his attention back to the field. He felt that Mazraoui was very impressive. He had quick feet, pace, and was strong in one-on-one situations. The way he got past Robertson was particularly eye-catching.
Gao Shen was very satisfied.
...
Both teams kept attacking, the tempo staying incredibly high.
Milinkovic fired another long-range shot that threatened Onana's goal.
Ajax responded by charging into Leeds United's penalty area, but Ruben Dias cleared the danger with a long ball.
After a few quick transitions, Dembele dribbled down the right wing and successfully beat Tagliafico. He surged into the right side of the penalty area and reached the edge of the penalty arc.
Vardy drew the attention of both Ajax center-backs, while Dembele attracted defensive midfielder Blind. But after a clever feint, Dembele slipped a low cross to the left side of the penalty area.
Mbappe had been waiting there, raising his hand to call for the ball.
He met Dembele's cross and smashed a powerful shot into Ajax's goal.
"Goalllllllllllllllllllll!"
The entire Arena stadium erupted in stunned gasps from the Ajax supporters.
Gao Shen and Borel applauded and cheered from the stands.
This counterattack was lightning-fast and executed to perfection.
In particular, Dembele's pass to Mbappe completely exposed Ajax's defensive flaws.
After Mazraoui had pushed forward, he couldn't get back in time to track Mbappe on the counter.
Of course, you can't blame Mazraoui too much. There aren't many full-backs in the world who can keep up with Mbappe.
Especially when you've just pressed forward and suddenly get caught out on the counter.
"Your players are stronger," Van der Sar said with a helpless sigh.
The difference in quality was clear.
Whether it was Mbappe, Dembele, Milinkovic-Savic, or Bernardo Silva, they were all a level above Ajax's players.
"Your tactics were excellent, and your play was brilliant," Gao Shen complimented.
He meant it.
Ajax's football this season was far from boring. It was fast-paced and combined technique with speed.
This had always been their style.
Although Ajax and Barcelona share footballing roots, Ajax was never obsessed with Barcelona's possession-based approach. They preferred constant attacks and relentless pressure.
Gao Shen had discussed this with Van Gaal, who once said something that left a deep impression on him.
"Football is a show, a performance to entertain the fans!"
Van Gaal said that maybe it was different elsewhere, but in the Netherlands, football must be played beautifully.
Having coached in La Liga, Serie A, and the Premier League, Gao Shen understood that every country viewed football differently, and fans had their own preferences.
But one thing was constant—they all needed to entertain their fans.
In Europe, football is deeply rooted in local communities.
That's why even lower-league and amateur teams have loyal supporters.
Because these clubs represent their hometowns, the teams they've supported since childhood.
Another example: the Premier League's Community Shield used to be called the Charity Shield. Why was it renamed?
According to the FA, it was to honor the volunteers who support local communities.
Despite its commercial success, the Premier League has always placed great importance on community development.
Take "Premier League Community Action," for instance. It revolves around the league itself and calls on clubs across the country to take the lead in supporting local causes.
This applies to the Bundesliga, Serie A, and other leagues too.
Back in the day, as an ordinary football fan in China, Gao Shen would only see occasional news reports of footballers visiting nursing homes, kindergartens, or hospitals during major holidays like Christmas.
But in truth, the bond between football clubs and their communities is everywhere.
This idea left a deep impression on him. It's a kind of emotional connection that many fans in China may not fully understand.
That's why Van Gaal's words meant so much to Gao Shen.
Now, his Leeds United and Van Gaal's Ajax were delivering a spectacular attacking display on the pitch.
Neither side held back. Both were attacking with everything they had.
Despite conceding a goal, Ajax fans didn't fall silent or show frustration. Instead, they became even more passionate and animated, cheering loudly and urging their team on.
For a moment, the atmosphere at the Arena Stadium was more electric than ever.
This energy pushed both teams to an even higher level on the pitch.
This is the best twelfth man!
When fans generate such an intense atmosphere, the players feel it. It's like catching fire, their bodies surging with energy.
(To be continued.)