Tadic believes Ajax have perfect blend of youth and experience to stun Spurs
Former Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic is part of a talented Ajax side aiming to become legends by reaching the Champions League final
DUSAN TADIC is sitting over the road from the Van Gogh Museum and discussing how Ajax created a masterpiece.
The Dutch giants have sculpted a team from their famed Academy and added some experience through the likes of Tadic.
The result has been an exhibition of Total Football en route to this week’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Tottenham — with Tadic’s goal and assist against Real Madrid among their works of art.
Winger Tadic, 30, said: “It’s not good to have 11 young players and it’s not good to have 11 old players. You need to have a mix. Both can learn from each other.
“In the past few years, Ajax didn’t have so much success but had a lot of possibilities and young players.
“They have made a very good project and you see what is happening now. They have invested a lot and got everything back.”
Exactly a year ago, Serbian Tadic scored twice for Southampton against Bournemouth but was still staring at the threat of relegation.
They have made a very good project and you see what is happening now. They have invested a lot and got everything back.
Dusan Tadic on Ajax DNA
His last game for Ajax, against Vitesse Arnhem last Tuesday, saw him convert two penalties.
He has now scored or assisted goals more than 50 times this season.
Tadic, who spent four seasons at Southampton, said: “We dominated games in my first two seasons there. My statistics and play were also better.
"In the last two years, we didn’t dominate opponents so much but I fought for the team and I ran.
“Here, you are constantly attacking and it is normal that you get opportunities to make goals and assists.”
The move back to Holland last summer arose because Ajax director of football Marc Overmars remembered Tadic from the Serb’s time at Groningen, when he was team-mates with Virgil van Dijk.
Back in 2012, he moved to FC Twente under boss Steve McClaren and his route back to the Eredivisie came via Saints, where he played under four managers.
When Overmars called, it took just one conversation for him to decide his future.
Tadic became part of the experienced core of boss Erik Ten Hag’s team, along with Daley Blind, 29, and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 35.
YOUTH & EXPERIENCE
At the other end of the age scale, Frenkie de Jong, 21, and Matthijs de Ligt, 19, have the world at their feet.
Cameroonian keeper Andre Onana, 23, is also part of a generation who believe they can defeat anyone.
Tadic explained: “It is not strange for me to see the young players without fear. It is in the Ajax DNA. They don’t care about pressure. I really like the philosophy.
"We always dominate and we don’t care if we are home or away. We always play our football, this is our biggest strength.
“The only problem is that if you don’t try things or take risks, then the coach will say something.
“Even if you make mistakes, they want you to play and enjoy it.
“De Ligt is 19, De Jong is 21, but they think like a 30-year-old. Their brains are amazing. Their mentality is complete. You cannot buy this.
“I have never seen it in my life. They will suit everyone. They have everything in their game.”
That Ajax DNA has been handed down from the 1995 champions of Europe.
Pictures of manager Louis van Gaal’s team are all around the Johan Cruyff Arena, while Overmars and Edwin van der Sar walk the corridors of the training ground in their executive roles.
Tadic said: “There are a lot of comparisons with that generation, but they won trophies and we haven’t yet.
LEGENDS
“It’s incredible that the club has so many legends. I was very young for that European final but I liked Litmanen, the De Boer brothers, Davids, Seedorf, Blind…”
This is a club that passes down everything from previous generations — Tadic’s club car used to belong to Dennis Bergkamp.
Tadic lives near Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum. One Ajax legend, Marco van Basten, is a neighbour and another, Frank Rijkaard, is often seen out cycling.
Glory this season will turn the current crop into legends — but Tadic is wary of Spurs, who have their own Ajax influence in Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez.
Tadic arrived at Southampton when Mauricio Pochettino left for Spurs. He said: “Ronald Koeman replaced him and did well, but Pochettino left a lot of nice things and made it easier.
“I like to see how players improve. With Pochettino and Pep Guardiola, you see a big difference between before and after they manage them.
“I played against Dele Alli and Harry Kane before Pochettino worked with them properly and after — and I saw how they were improving.”
Tadic is sat next to his advisor Ian Anderson in a restaurant, picking apart this amazing Champions League run to the semi-final.
There was the assist at the Bernabeu when his turn took him away from Casemiro before setting up David Neres.
Then his goal — finding the top corner after a perfect Ajax move.
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Tadic added: “Donny van de Beek played me a very good ball, on my right foot and with the right power. Those details are very small but important.
“It is what we always discuss between players — play me on this foot in this situation, play a strong ball to give more time for your team-mate.”
After the Juventus win came a congratulatory text from fellow Serbian Novak Djokovic. The tennis superstar may now get an invite to the final.