"Ajax's midfield is unsolvable."
That was the final conclusion of Sporting Lisbon's technical staff.
Let that sink in.
This wasn't said by youth coaches.
It was said by the first-team technical department about two U15 midfielders.
That was outrageous.
After the tactical meeting ended, Deng Kai stayed behind.
"Kay, do you need something?" Trigueira glanced at him. "We have a first-team discussion next. We need to evaluate whether Ricardo Quaresma is ready to replace Simão Sabrosa next season."
In other words: Simão was definitely leaving. His transfer was basically done.
Quaresma would be the next golden boy. Early first-team promotion. Portuguese Super League minutes. The next "future superstar."
Deng Kai nodded.
"I have a few questions about Ajax."
Trigueira motioned for him to continue.
"If we man-mark and double-team, can we completely shut down Rafael van der Vaart?"
The video analyst answered immediately.
"Very difficult. Van der Vaart's talent is absurd. His dribbling and control are too clever. Even double-teaming won't guarantee success."
"If you insist on double coverage, it's smarter to target Wesley Sneijder instead. He's excellent, but his dribbling talent is clearly below Van der Vaart's."
He continued:
"Shift the attack through the center. Their striker drops deep frequently, and their wide players cut inside. That pressures Ajax's central defense."
"If we force Sneijder to retreat into a deeper midfield role to assist defensively, your front line will mainly face Van der Vaart."
"But the cost?"
"Our forwards will almost disappear from the game. You'll sacrifice scoring probability."
It was simple math.
Three attacking lanes become one.
Fewer passing options.
Easier to predict.
This was a strategy of sacrificing offense to limit Sneijder.
Deng Kai thought about it.
He agreed with the structure.
But he disagreed with the logic.
The problem wasn't that they overestimated Van der Vaart.
Van der Vaart really was nearly unguardable in the No.10 role.
The problem was underestimating Sneijder.
Even as a deeper midfielder, Sneijder's long-range passing was razor sharp. Give him space and he'd slice you open from 40 meters like a surgeon.
If Ronaldo's duels with Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben were growth moments for Ronaldo…
Then Van der Vaart and Sneijder were Deng Kai's trial by fire.
If he wanted to become a midfield master, this was mandatory.
No shortcuts.
No cut-cock excuses.
He left the classroom and gathered the team on the training ground.
"New tactical rehearsal."
The teammates didn't even complain.
They were used to this.
Some captains demand burgers and someone to carry their bags.
Some captains demand nobody defends them hard in training.
Deng Kai?
He liked to invent "technically legal but mentally sick" tactics.
For example:
When preparing for a free kick, the entire team bunches up tightly — then suddenly explodes outward like a goddess scattering flowers.
Or they form a human pigworm… then burst apart like the pigworm just exploded.
Or take ground-level sneaky free kicks that make referees question their life choices.
From a traditional coaching perspective?
Useless.
Waste of time.
From Deng Kai's perspective?
Expanding tactical imagination.
Maxa didn't stop them.
"As long as it makes them think," he said.
"Cristiano, Lorenzo, Marcelino — continuous central sprints. Drop deep. Repeat. Faster."
"Veloso — find the best dribbler on the team. One-on-one defense. Use your body. If you can steal it, great. If not, knock him down. I'll take responsibility."
He paused.
"And whoever trains hardest today gets a signed Zidane ball."
That caused immediate chaos.
On Lisbon's collector market recently, signed balls from Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazário, and even Alex Ferguson had mysteriously appeared.
Cristiano once found a warehouse full of them in the Chinese district.
Dozens.
The ones signed by Guardiola?
Nobody even bothered putting plastic wrapping on them.
Tragic.
April 20th.
Amsterdam Arena.
UEFA Youth Champions League semifinal.
Ajax drew home advantage.
The stadium — completed in 1996 at a cost of 140 million euros — held over 50,000 spectators.
Years later, on April 25, 2017, it would be renamed the Johan Cruyff Arena to honor the legendary Johan Cruyff.
But today?
It was pure chaos.
Ajax's league campaign had already collapsed.
So fans poured all their passion into the Dutch Cup and this brand-new European youth tournament.
It was the first time Europe had organized such a large-scale youth Champions League.
Fifty thousand fans sang Ajax's anthem.
When players entered the pitch, the loudest cheers were for:
Van der Vaart.
Then Sneijder.
Ajax lined up in their familiar 4-2-3-1.
Sneijder on the right side of midfield.
Van der Vaart at attacking midfield.
Exactly what Deng Kai predicted.
This was the semifinal.
No one was getting cute tactically.
There's only one Guardiola crazy enough for that.
The whistle blew.
Within five minutes, both sides had tested each other.
Remove Ronaldo, Deng Kai, Van der Vaart, Sneijder — the stars.
The remaining players were "normal."
And "normal" here meant elite among their age group.
But there are levels even among the gifted.
Ajax's "normal" players were clearly stronger than Sporting's "normal" players.
They had reached the mortal ceiling.
In youth development terms?
Ajax might genuinely be number one in the world.
Naturally, Ajax took control.
Sporting retreated.
Minute 6.
Van der Vaart received the ball centrally.
And began a performance.
Cruyff turn.
Marseille roulette.
Stop-start acceleration.
Ball rolls.
Nutmeg between three defenders.
All under heavy pressure.
He refused to lose possession.
Finally, Semedo had no choice but to foul him.
Whistle.
Free kick.
Twenty seconds later—
The Amsterdam Arena exploded.
Van der Vaart bent it straight into the net.
1–0.
He didn't even celebrate wildly.
His expression said it all:
"You can foul me."
"You can kick me."
"But you can't stop me from scoring."
Ajax lead.
As mentioned before—
Facing geniuses is the only path for Deng Kai to become a midfield master.
But some people?
Some people are born masters.
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