The Next Day
The Ajax U-23 squad gathered in the dining hall of the team hotel. A large screen displayed the overnight tournament results and updated standings. The air buzzed with low conversation and clinking cutlery.
Coach Bakker entered with his tablet and a cup of black coffee. "Alright, listen up."
On the screen, the announcer recapped the first round of matches.
Group A:
Arsenal 3-1 Porto
Kai Sterling with a brace. The pink-haired wonderkid celebrated by blowing kisses at the Porto bench. Video clips of his antics were already flooding social media.
Josip scowled. "Clown."
Liam chuckled. "Yeah, but a clown who scores."
Group B:
Liverpool 2-1 PSG
Lyon 0-0 Inter
Group D:
Man United 1-0 AC Milan
Dortmund 2-2 Chelsea
Group C:
Barcelona 3-1 Ajax
Juventus 1-2 Bayern Munich
Current Group C Standings:
Barcelona — 3 pts (+2)
Bayern — 3 pts (+1)
Juventus — 0 pts (-1)
Ajax — 0 pts (-2)
Bakker gestured toward the screen. "It's simple now. We have to get something off Bayern. Win and we're back in it. Lose, and we're chasing shadows."
---
In the meeting room, two days after their opening round defeat, Bakker drew Bayern's formation on the tactics board.
"They play with a back three, wingbacks high, and this man —" He tapped a photo. "Maximilian Vogel. Their captain. Libero. Controls the game from deep. Sharp, calm, precise."
Femi studied the face. Tall, blonde, ice-cold eyes.
"But don't be fooled by the quiet type," Bakker added. "Vogel's a leader. Obsessive about order. Never lets a game descend into chaos."
Josip muttered, "I'd like to test how calm he stays when he's on the floor."
Bakker smirked. "As long as it's clean."
Then he tapped another photo. "Lukas Brandt. Big, fast, ruthless. Scored fifteen in his last eighteen for Bayern's youth side. Arrogant too. Loves baiting defenders, drawing them out of position."
Yassine added, "Sounds like Josip's long-lost twin."
The room chuckled. Even Josip cracked a grin.
---
Later in the hotel lounge, several Ajax players watched highlights on a nearby screen. Kai Sterling dominated the reel, his pink hair unmistakable, scoring and showboating.
In a post-match interview, he smirked. "I saw some of these so-called big clubs — Ajax, Juventus. Can't defend to save their lives. Some winger pretending to be a center-back? Please."
Liam spat out his drink. "He did not."
Ramon growled. "Name the coward."
Femi said nothing, jaw clenched.
Josip cracked his knuckles. "If we meet them, he's mine."
The room fell quiet, tension prickling in the air.
---
At the Stadium
Match day 2 and the bus ride to the stadium was tense, conversations sparse. Femi sat by the window, staring at the skyline, mind flicking between Vogel's reputation and Kai Sterling's insult. Liam nudged him.
"Forget that clown. Focus on Vogel."
Femi nodded.
Inside the stadium, the team warmed up on the pristine pitch. Bayern's players were already out, sharp and composed. Vogel was every bit as commanding as Bakker described—directing his teammates with quiet authority. Brandt oozed swagger, grinning at Femi as they crossed paths.
"Hope you can keep up, winger," Brandt teased.
Femi didn't reply.
---
Lineups Announced
Ajax U-23 Starting XI:
1. Daan Visser (GK)
2. Kenji Okoro (RCB)
3. Ramon Dekker (CB)
4. Femi Adeleye (LCB)
5. Noah Willems (RWB)
6. Josip Van der Berg (LWB)
7. Yassine Bouali (CM)
8. Timo van Loon (CM)
9. Liam Janssen (RW)
10. Souleymane Traoré (ST)
11. Jacek Kowalski (LW)
Bayern Munich U-23 Starting XI:
1. Felix Hartmann (GK)
2. Jonas Becker (RCB)
3. Maximilian Vogel (CB, Captain)
4. Leon Herzog (LCB)
5. Erik Schmid (RWB)
6. Niko Weiss (LWB)
7. Enzo Meyer (CM)
8. Marcel Berger (CM)
9. Lukas Brandt (ST)
10. Malik Sommer (RW)
11. Theo Reuter (LW)
---
Kick-off
The whistle pierced the evening air.
Ajax came out sharp. Liam immediately tested Niko Weiss, bursting down the right. His cross had to be punched clear by Hartmann.
Bayern retaliated through Lukas Brandt, muscling past Ramon but Femi tracked back, sweeping the ball away.
7th Minute.
Josip flattened Sommer with a crunching shoulder. Referee waved play on. The crowd roared.
12th Minute.
Yassine released Souleymane, who twisted between Vogel and Becker. His shot skidded low, Hartmann palmed it wide.
18th Minute.
Bayern settled. Vogel dropped deeper, spraying passes diagonally, dictating the tempo. He carried himself like a man with all the time in the world. Every step, every glance measured.
Femi stayed tight, watching both Vogel and Brandt, noting how the pair communicated with simple looks.
24th Minute.
Kenji Okoro stepped up, intercepted a pass, then overhit a return to Femi under pressure.
Femi stretched, controlled awkwardly, but Enzo Meyer pounced.
Quick turnover. Bayern surged.
Vogel seized the ball, drove into midfield, unhurried, scanning like a chessmaster. Brandt peeled off Ramon, making his move.
Vogel slid a perfect through ball into the channel.
Femi turned, heart pounding, chasing shadows.
Brandt was through.
Femi lunged, grazing the ball, slowing Brandt just enough for Daan Visser to charge out and smother it.
The stadium erupted in noise.
Femi hauled himself up, chest heaving. Vogel met his gaze from across the pitch, offering the faintest smirk. Brandt scowled but clapped his captain on the back.
No words, but the message was clear.
Next time.
And the match rolled on...