A tale of nine points, the 99th minute - how Ajax blew title

Six weeks ago, it seemed Ajax would win their 37th Eredivisie title.

Ajax last won the trophy in the 2021-22 season. A 2-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven on March 30 put them nine points ahead.

At that point, many thought the title race was over.

PSV captain Luuk de Jong acknowledged they needed to focus on second place. He said, "Nine points is too much to make up with so few games left."

Fast forward six weeks, and PSV fans were ecstatic in their stadium.

After a routine 4-1 win against Heracles, news broke that Ajax had drawn with Groningen. Ajax conceded a last-minute equalizer while playing against ten men.

These results allowed PSV to leapfrog Ajax and take the lead by one point.

Since losing to Ajax, PSV had won six consecutive matches. Meanwhile, Ajax dropped ten points in four games due to complacency.

On the final day of the season, Ajax needed help from Sparta Rotterdam. However, PSV secured a routine 3-1 win to keep the title in Eindhoven for another year.

This marks Ajax's third consecutive season without a major trophy.

Wim Jonk, former midfielder for both clubs, closely followed the title race as it tightened. He noted how quickly things changed for Ajax after building a large lead.

"When you drop points," Jonk said, "the outside world starts talking." He questioned how this affected team psychology.

Jonk observed that as pressure mounted on Ajax, their performance faltered. He emphasized that quality players were present but lacked confidence under stress.

He pointed out poor performances at home against Sparta Rotterdam and NEC Nijmegen. When things went wrong during matches, players seemed confused about what was happening.

"Structure is essential," Jonk added. "You need something solid to rely on."

Ajax's struggles tell only part of the story; PSV's turnaround is remarkable too. They once held a nine-point lead over Ajax back in December.

Unexpected twists have become common this season. In late October, no one anticipated such drama ahead.

PSV started strong with ten convincing wins early in the season. Under manager Peter Bosz, they played dominant football and looked like league champions again.

Jonk praised their high pressing style as entertaining and effective early on this season.

Ajax lost just one of their first 17 home games at Johan Cruyff Arena but faced challenges later on.

The low point for PSV came when they lost 7-1 at home to Arsenal in March's Champions League tie. Shortly after that defeat, they fell behind Ajax by nine points after losing again at home.

Jonk questioned whether there was still hunger within PSV’s squad to achieve shared goals despite setbacks.

He noted luck plays a role but emphasized winning your own games matters most since other outcomes are beyond control.

PSV enjoyed a winning streak but faced danger during a match against Feyenoord on May