Stomach problems

Johan Cruyff wasn’t impressed by the Champions League final. For him there was no glory in Chelsea’s heroic defending and improbable success.

“Only Chelsea fans will be happy with this, for the rest, nobody can be happy with the outcome of the Champions League final,” he said. “What especially bothers me is that a football team can forget everything and still win.”

For Cruyff, now a director at Ajax, winning is not enough; there must be style in the victory. “I’d choose to take the steps we take at Ajax, towards the football that we all want to see,” he said. “And then if there’s no Champions League win? Better not to have the trophy in this way.”