In one week, the U17 tournament will kick off in Amsterdam. In the run‑up to the Easter weekend, the team is training with a focus on different styles of play. "In training sessions, we work on various playing styles. We also incorporate the Future Cup rules into our exercises, such as dribbling in, quick free kicks and goalkeepers restarting the play quickly. Throughout the season we’ve worked on fitness, and we hope to be in top condition. We do have a few injuries, but overall we’re in a good place."
Sticking to their own style of play
Ajax will face Paris Saint‑Germain, Sporting Portugal and Future United in the group stage, which means encountering several different playing philosophies. Still, Bijl explains that he and the team always begin from their own principles and game model. Earlier in the season, they faced teams like Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge, who also play with different styles. The team’s first opponent of the tournament is Sporting Portugal, whose style has already been analysed thoroughly. Bijl emphasises: "We consciously keep things simple. We focus on our strengths. In the details we make adjustments, such as where we press or where space is available on the ball."
A tournament like this also comes with pressure. Bijl experienced that pressure himself in 2012 and knows exactly what it feels like for a group of young players. Still, the coach believes that as an Ajax player, you must always feel a certain level of pressure, whether it’s against PEC Zwolle, Feyenoord or soon against Sporting Portugal. "That pressure is part of it. Each player must decide individually how to deal with it. Against Sporting Portugal, with a big crowd and live TV, you may take some pressure off. At the same time, it’s a home tournament, so they should also feel the need to perform. It’s a balance the coach has to manage."
Ajax as a contender
Bijl looks forward to the tournament with confidence. "If we start well and get the crowd behind us, we have a good chance. Of course, you also need a bit of luck. We have a young team, but that can turn out positively." For Bijl, the Future Cup is successful if the players develop, and if the fans become excited by the way Ajax play and the attitude they show.
Striving to belong among the best and performing at a high level naturally comes with a clear objective. Bijl wants to win the tournament with his team. He adds: "Of course you should enjoy it, but you enjoy it most when you win. If you don’t reach the semi‑finals and have nothing left to play for, it’s different. We play to win, that’s the primary goal. On top of that, we want to entertain the crowd with good football. At Ajax, those things should go together. If they can’t, then winning comes first. The Olympia Future Cup is also an important learning moment. Players compete under pressure, against strong opponents, with an audience and media presence. That helps their development towards top‑level football."
Memories of 2012
Bijl won the Future Cup in 2012 and played a significant role in doing so. When asked what first comes to mind when he thinks about the tournament, he answers immediately: "That was the semi‑final against FC Barcelona. I saved two penalties and scored the winner. I often think back to that moment. You even still see it pop up in promo videos sometimes. That tournament also contributed to my transfer to NEC. It’s one of my best football memories."
Back in 2012, Bijl never expected that he would one day return to the Future Cup as a coach. He was important that year and played for the Dutch national youth teams, but later in the U19s, he realised that his height was becoming a disadvantage. He wanted to stay in football and chose to pursue coaching.
Influence of De Boer
As a coach, Bijl is inspired by Frank de Boer. According to him, De Boer was someone who demanded the maximum from himself and others, and who coached with strong tactical clarity. "With Frank, everything had to be perfect, the right foot, the right tempo, maximum focus. No lapses. I’ve taken that with me. When he entered the dressing room, everyone was immediately sharp. I find that important. Players don’t need to be tense, but they must be alert. At Ajax you have to perform every single day and want to be among the best."
If there is one thing he has carried over from his time as a player into the coach he is today, it is that moment against FC Barcelona. "With that penalty in 2012, I took responsibility as a goalkeeper. With a bit of Amsterdam bravado, I thought: I’ll put the ball away and we can move on to the final. That’s exactly what I want to see from my players during the tournament as well. Taking initiative and thinking offensively," Bijl concludes.
