But looking even to the near future was not right for the moment: Ajax had truly great season to enjoy. They reached the Cup final as well, where they met NEC Nijmegen in two-leg final. In great form, facing the last in the league was not a problem at all – Ajax won both matches with identical results: 3-1.
Of course, NEC Nijmegen wanted to win and were disappointed at the end, but not very much. They had no argument against Ajax and knew it. The final sweetened a bit a terrible season in which they were relegated – they were going to play in the Cup Winners Cup. Not bad at all, from their perspective. From another point of view, they contributed to the downfall of the tournament, which was rapidly becoming a competition not of countries’ second-bests, but of rag-tag second-division and near-second-division teams. General public was rapidly losing interest, fewer and fewer watched and cared for the tournament, still ranked number two in Europe, but effectively taking third place for the lack of forth.
Ajax made a double this year and everything was wonderful. Standing from left: erzorger Rob Molet, 2e trainer Van Wijk, Trainer Aad vd Mos, Silooy, Leo V. Veen, Storm, Moelby, Galje, Molenaar, Boeve, looptrainer Cees Koppellar, jeugdtrainer Bruins Slot.
Sitting: Vanenburg, John Van T. Schip, Kieft, Lerby, Schrijvers, Ophof, Schoenaker, Olsen, Cruijff.
Not a worry in the world. A total revival. So good, Ajax lost its mind – and the real revival as a result. Cruijff should have been resigned…