FC Twente Women, the league leader before its match against second-placed Ajax, was presented as a club where players are expected to defend collectively, keep clean sheets and openly aim for the championship. Mary-Kok Willemsen, who helped establish the women’s branch in 2006 and later became technical director of Bristol City Women, said the club’s long-term structure and champion standards were central to its success. The branch began with an open day that attracted about 650 applicants, and a first team was formed six months later.

The team initially struggled, but the club strengthened its approach by training six times a week and recruiting players from the United States, including Caitlin Farrell and Ashley Nick, in 2010. Arjan Veurink then became head coach and won several championships. FC Twente Women has since won 10 Dutch league titles, although it finished fourth last season. Willemsen also highlighted the importance of a large group of home-grown players, who pass the club’s standards on to newcomers.