Ajax Training Complex, De Toekomst
Late July 2017
Preseason training intensified. Ajax was preparing for three crucial objectives: defend their Eredivisie title, make a strong push in the Champions League qualifiers, and continue their youth development philosophy.
Peter Bosz gathered the squad for a tactical meeting in the video analysis room.
"This season is critical," he began, standing before a large screen displaying tactical diagrams. "We must prove last season wasn't a fluke. The Eredivisie, the Champions League—we aim for both."
He clicked through footage of their potential Champions League qualifying opponents.
"We'll face either Nice from France or Rosenborg from Norway in the third qualifying round. We must be ready."
Andrei listened intently, trying to absorb the tactical complexity. Ajax played a distinctive 4-3-3 formation, but it was fluid—the wingers cut inside, the fullbacks pushed high, the midfield rotated constantly.
Ajax Tactical System:
Formation: 4-3-3 (fluid)
Style: Possession-based, high pressing
Key Principles:
Build from the back
Positional rotation in attack
Immediate pressing on ball loss
Wingers inverted, fullbacks overlapping
Central midfielder (often Frenkie de Jong) dropping between center-backs
For Andrei, who'd played in a more rigid 4-2-3-1 at FCSB, this required significant adaptation.
Training sessions broke down these principles. One exercise focused purely on positional rotation—how the attacking midfielders, wingers, and striker constantly switched positions to confuse defenders.
"Andrei, when Hakim cuts inside from the right, you move wide to create space," Bosz demonstrated with cones and colored bibs. "When Kasper drops deep, you run beyond. Constant movement, never static."
They drilled it repeatedly—first at walking pace to understand the patterns, then at match speed. Andrei's brain hurt from the cognitive load, but slowly the movements became more intuitive.
Tactical Understanding: +0.3
Positioning (Ajax System): +0.2
Vision: +0.1
After two hours, they moved to pressing drills. Ajax's pressing was coordinated—when one player pressed, everyone adjusted position to cut passing lanes. It required reading the game collectively.
"Press with your brain, not just your legs!" Bosz shouted. "Cut the forward pass, force them backward!"
Andrei struggled initially. At FCSB, pressing had been more individual, more chaotic. This required discipline and collective intelligence.
But by the end of the week, something clicked. During a practice match, he read the opponent's body shape, pressed at the perfect moment, won the ball, and immediately played a through ball that led to a goal.
Bosz actually smiled—a rare sight. "Yes! That's it! That's Ajax football!"
System Update:
Effective Rating: 73.9 → 74.2
Adaptation: 65% complete
Tactical Intelligence: Improving rapidly
The first friendly match came on a Wednesday evening—Ajax versus Quick Boys, a second-division amateur team. It was played at De Toekomst, not the Amsterdam Arena, in front of maybe 500 people.
Andrei was named on the bench. He wore the Ajax training kit—red and white, the famous crest over his heart—and felt a surge of pride.
The starting XI was mostly first-choice players getting match fitness:
Ajax Starting XI:
GK: André Onana
DEF: Joël Veltman, Davinson Sánchez, Matthijs de Ligt, Jaïro Riedewald
MID: Frenkie de Jong, Lasse Schöne, Hakim Ziyech
FWD: David Neres, Kasper Dolberg, Amin Younes
Ajax dominated from the start. The technical gap was enormous—professional athletes against talented amateurs. By halftime, Ajax led 3-0.
In the 65th minute, Bosz signaled to Andrei. "Warm up. You're going on for Hakim."
Adrenaline flooded his system. He sprinted up and down the touchline, stretching, trying to calm his nerves.
In the 68th minute, the substitution board went up. Number 10 off (Ziyech), number 14 on (Luca).
Andrei jogged onto the pitch, and even this small crowd applauded politely. His first match in an Ajax shirt, even if just a friendly.
"Play your game," Ziyech said as they swapped. "Just express yourself."
The first few touches were tentative—receiving the ball, playing simple passes, feeling the rhythm. Quick Boys was tired now, their pressing disorganized.
In the 75th minute, Andrei received the ball in the right channel. He had space—rare in proper matches but common against exhausted opposition. He drove forward, cutting inside past a tired defender.
Two options: shoot from distance or pass to Dolberg making a run. The old Andrei might have shot. The developing Andrei made the smarter choice.
He slipped the ball through for Dolberg, perfectly weighted. The Danish striker finished clinically. 4-0.
Assist recorded (friendly)
Decision Making: Excellent
Vision: +0.1
In the 82nd minute, Andrei scored himself. A corner kick caused chaos, the ball bounced loose, and he struck it first-time from twelve yards. The goalkeeper had no chance.
Goal scored (friendly)
Shooting: +0.1
Final whistle: Ajax 5-0 Quick Boys. Not a meaningful test, but a confidence boost.
In the dressing room afterward, teammates congratulated him. Even the goal and assist were just a friendly, but they'd been well-executed.
"Good composure," Frenkie de Jong said, sitting beside him. "Lots of new players panic in their first match. You stayed calm, made smart decisions."
"Thank you. I was nervous."
"Everyone is. But you didn't show it. That's what matters."
That night, lying in their new bed, Elena interviewed him about the experience.
"How did it feel? Your first goal for Ajax?"
"Unreal. Even though it was just a friendly, wearing that shirt, scoring in those colors—it felt significant."
"Because it is significant. You've joined one of Europe's most historic clubs. Even friendly goals matter." She kissed him. "I'm proud of you."
"I couldn't do this without you."
"Yes, you could. But I'm glad you don't have to."
The preseason continued with more friendlies—each progressively harder. Ajax faced Panathinaikos from Greece (2-1 win, Andrei played thirty minutes), then Werder Bremen from Germany (1-1 draw, Andrei started and played seventy minutes).
Against Bremen, he struggled more. The German side was physical, pressing aggressively. Several times, Andrei lost the ball trying to dribble instead of playing quickly.
Match Rating vs Bremen: 6.4/10
Key Learning: Must adapt to physical pressing
Bosz addressed it in video analysis. "Andrei, look at this moment. You receive, try to turn, get dispossessed. In the Eredivisie, you'll have more time. In Europe, you won't. Play faster, think faster."
The criticism stung but was fair. The gap between Romanian football and top European competition was larger than he'd realized.
He redoubled his efforts in training—working on quicker decision-making, one-touch passing, releasing the ball faster. Slowly, incrementally, his game adapted.
Adaptation Progress: 75% complete
Effective Rating: 74.2 → 74.6
Meanwhile, Ajax's main team was taking shape. The club had made several signings—notably buying Hakim Ziyech permanently from Twente for €11 million after a successful loan. They'd also signed German forward Maximilian Wöber and Brazilian winger David Neres.
Competition for places was fierce. Andrei was fighting for a spot in the attacking midfield/winger rotation with established players like Ziyech, Younes, Neres, and promising youngster Donny van de Beek.
"You're doing well," Overmars told him during a casual conversation at the training ground. "Peter likes your intelligence. Just keep improving physically and you'll get your chances."
"Thank you. I'm working hard on strength training."
"Good. The Eredivisie is more physical than people think. Not like the Bundesliga, but you need to hold your own."
The gym sessions with Pieter were helping. Andrei could feel himself getting stronger—not bulky, but more solid, harder to push off the ball.
Strength: 65 → 66/99
Small gains, but gains nonetheless.