The whistle blew —and Ajax exploded forward like a tidal wave.
From the first touch, it was clear:
This wasn't a normal team.This wasn't normal youth football.
Ajax U17 played fast, fluid, and fearless.
In the first five minutes, Bayern barely touched the ball.
The Ajax midfield moved with dizzying precision — triangles, quick passes, feints — constantly shifting and breaking spaces.
Mateo felt the difference immediately.
The tempo.The sharpness.The ruthless efficiency.
It was like being thrown into a storm.
And among that storm, four names began to shine:
Dani van der Meulen, the midfield general —A skinny, sharp-eyed boy with an absurd passing range, dictating the rhythm like a seasoned veteran.
Jasper Vink, the lightning winger —Speed and technique combined, terrorizing Bayern's right-back with explosive dribbles.
Noah de Witte, the towering center-back —A natural leader, barking orders, cutting down counter-attacks with perfect timing.
Lars Bakker, the agile striker —Always moving, always finding pockets of space, his positioning a nightmare to track.
Each touch from Ajax felt like a cut.Each movement, a test.
Mateo gritted his teeth, feeling his heartbeat hammer against his ribs.
This wasn't just about playing well.
It was about surviving.
He forced himself to focus:
First, stay compact.
Help in defense.
Fight for every loose ball.
Find his breathing amid the chaos.
At first, he struggled.
His first few touches were clumsy.Passes slightly off.Decisions a fraction too slow.
The Ajax midfield punished every mistake instantly, swarming him like sharks sensing blood.
But then —Mateo remembered something.
"Play simple first," his coach had always said."Earn your rhythm, then create."
He slowed his mind.
Blocked out the noise.Trusted his instincts.
The next time the ball came to him, he didn't hesitate —a clean one-touch pass sideways to Lukas Müller.
Simple.Safe.
And with that, his heartbeat calmed.
His mind sharpened.
His body responded.
He began to find his place —floating between the spaces,offering support,waiting for his moment.
The crowd noise faded to a distant hum.
All that mattered now was the game,the ball,the next decision.