Dusan Tadic is heading back to the Johan Cruyff ArenA with emotions running high, but not everyone is happy about what he said before the reunion. The 37-year-old NEC forward, who spent five memorable years at Ajax, has drawn criticism after giving a brutally honest assessment of the gap between his former and current clubs.
His comments have sparked a lively debate among supporters, with some accusing the Serbian veteran of disrespecting his current teammates. Others, meanwhile, see the interview as another example of Tadic speaking with the same bluntness that made him such a defining figure at Ajax.
A dream return to Amsterdam
Tadic’s bond with Ajax remains powerful. Speaking to NU.nl, he described the club as the place he always dreamed of playing for, admitting that even as a child he had an Ajax shirt hanging in his room.
“Ajax were always my dream club,” he said. “I was captain in a fantastic period, in which we made history and won trophies. Of course Ajax have changed. But honestly? It remains my dream club.”
For Ajax fans, those words will sound familiar. Tadic became a leader in Amsterdam between 2018 and 2023, guiding the side through a successful spell filled with silverware, big nights and a strong identity. He also made clear that his connection with the club has not faded, even if his career has moved in a different direction.
From title-chasing standards to a tougher reality
Now at NEC, Tadic has not hidden the difference in quality he feels every day. He said he arrived from clubs where winning trophies was the standard, while at NEC there is more room for frustration, correction and inconsistency.
“There are so many things to correct at NEC, but of course that is not possible. So I focus on the most important things. With all respect to NEC, but I was used to playing at clubs that win trophies. Ajax were and are my standard,” he explained.
That frankness is what has caused the storm. Supporters on social media reacted sharply, arguing that a player in Tadic’s position should protect the dressing room rather than expose its shortcomings so openly. For a club trying to build momentum, the timing could hardly be more awkward.
Frustration after heavy defeats
Tadic’s remarks came after difficult recent results, including a 3-0 loss to Cambuur and a 5-0 defeat to Juventus. He admitted those setbacks hit hard, especially because the level of control he once expected at Ajax is now absent.
At Ajax, he said, the pre-match discussion often focused on how many goals the team might score. Against Cambuur, by contrast, he said it was painful to see how easily the opposition could have added to the damage.
“At Ajax, before every match the question was how many goals we would score,” Tadic said. “It was painful to experience that Cambuur could easily have scored six against us.”
He also acknowledged the difficulty of adapting to a different style of play at NEC, where his attacking ideas do not always connect the way they once did in Amsterdam. “I regularly make the build-up actions and don’t get the ball. Or I don’t get it back after a few touches. Then apparently my brain works too fast,” he said.
Supporters react sharply
That final line may have been intended as self-reflection, but many NEC supporters took it as a criticism of the players around him. Their response was immediate and unforgiving.
One supporter wrote that the club should leave him at home after such comments, while another suggested he should be sent to the stands. Others questioned whether a player with Tadic’s profile should be speaking so negatively about the squad while still representing it.
There was also pushback on his claim that he is used to playing for trophy-winning sides. Some fans pointed out that most of his success came at Ajax, while his broader career has included clubs where he did not win major honours.
The backlash shows how sensitive football environments can be when honesty crosses into perceived disloyalty. What might sound refreshing to one audience can feel damaging to another, especially when confidence inside a dressing room is already under pressure.
Ajax connection still burns strong
Despite the criticism, Tadic also made clear that his attachment to Ajax remains deep. He recalled the warm reception he received after the Conference League tie between Ajax and his former club Vojvodina, saying the bond with the supporters runs “so deep.”
He even floated the idea of a future return to Amsterdam in a different role, saying he would one day like to come back as a coach. “Ajax my ex-wife? No, Ajax are still my wife,” he said, underlining just how strong that connection remains.
For Ajax, Tadic’s return is a reminder of a successful era that still resonates with fans. For NEC, it is a tricky moment that forces the club to balance a celebrated figure’s honesty with the need for unity. And for Tadic himself, it is another chapter in a career that continues to generate emotion, debate and reaction wherever he goes.
Saturday’s match against Ajax now carries extra intrigue. Whether Tadic starts, scores or simply walks onto the pitch, the reception from both sets of supporters will be watched closely. One thing is certain: this reunion is about much more than three points.
