Denied a nail-biting denouement by the Best League In The World™, where the champions and relegated sides were all but mathematically confirmed about 15 matches ago, more than a few Premier League observers have spent the past couple of weeks glancing towards the Netherlands while exhibiting hitherto unprecedented symptoms of a malaise Football Daily is diagnosing asEredivisieEnvy. For so long the neglected cousin of Europe’s Big Five, the Dutch top flight is largely left to its own devices while its English, Spanish, German, Italian and French relatives chew the fat at European football’s Big Boy table, only diverting their attention towards the low countries when it comes to hoovering up emerging talent. On Wednesday, however, the pancake-flat land of tulips, wooden footwear and uncomfortably forthright conversation stole continental headlines as European heavyweights Ajax completed their latest pratfall en route to what could be one ofthemost apocalyptic chokes in football history.
A month ago, it all looked done and dusted. With five matches remaining, Ajax had an apparently insurmountable nine-point lead over championsPSV Eindhovenand looked a shoo-in to reclaim the title they consider their birthright with two or three games to spare. It was at this inopportune moment that Francisco Farioli’s side started stepping Sideshow Bob-style on rakes, taking just one point from the next nine available, while PSV won three in a row to reduce the gap to just one point. On Wednesday night PSV made it four wins on the bounce, the final whistle of their 4-1 home win over Heracles being blown as Ajax attempted to close out a 2-1 win against 10-man FC Groningen.
While that game concluded, PSV fans, players, coaches, groundstaff and even club mascot Phoxy the fox remained on the pitch and in the stands at the Philips Stadion, peering at buffering phones and tablets before the glorious realisation slowly dawned on them that no, this wasn’t some elaborate hoax but Groningen had in fact scored a miraculous equaliser in theninthminute of added time. CueAjaxdesolation at Groningen and scenes of unbridled pandemonium in Eindhoven as PSV went one point clear at the top with a game left to play. The destination of a title that once looked lost is now firmly in their own hands.
“If you’re nine points behind with five games to go, the hope is so small,” cooed PSV captain Luuk de Jong. “And now, to be one point ahead with one match left – that’s something you wouldn’t even dare to dream. It’s incredible.” Of course to avoid a significant bottling of their own, PSV cannot relinquish the lifeline thrown their way by Ajax and must beat mid-table Sparta Rotterdam away on Sunday to retain their title. Ajax, meanwhile, have to beat sixth-placed Twente in Amsterdam and pray PSV slip up. Premier League old boys Jordan Henderson and Wout Weghorst were both ashen faced but disappointingly tightlipped following Ajax’s shocker, but their teammate Davy Klaassen did deign to speak with reporters after the game. “I’m only here because I have to [talk to you],” declared the former Everton midfielder, showcasing that famous Dutch reputation for pleasantry-free straight-talking for all to see.
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