The Super Cup was still in its confusing infancy – a bit more legitimate in the second year of existence, but not fully recognized. Not entirely serious competition because of that. More dependant on the participants’ agreement than on routine UEFA schedule. In fact, no Super Cup was contested for 1974 at all – instead, in January the Super Cup for 1973 was contested between Ajax and Milan. The first leg was won by the Italians, but Ajax triumphed at the end after destroying Milan in Amsterdam. Football in January is hardly serious – the attendance was low, especially in Italy, and it looked like Milan did not take the challenge as official final, but more like unimportant friendlies. The final attracted little interest and commentaries – almost everybody considered (rightly) that both clubs were in decline. This was the last big trophy of great Ajax, and the only one won under the helm of their new coach, but there was little cheer – the great club was thought already dead. As for Milan – even their fans shrugged off the loss. Indiferently. The second Super Cup produced less interest than the first one… and looked like dead tournament already.

Ajax appeared to play total football only on photos. Paper tigers by now, both clubs competed for… who was only half-dead. The Italian catenaccio was destroyed by already destroyed inventors of total football.
Super Cup 19731st Leg, San Siro Stadium, Milan, 9 Jan 1974, att 15000

Milan (0) 1 Ajax (0) 077' 1-0 M: Chiarugi

Milan: Vecchi, Sabadini, Maldera, Schnellinger, Anquiletti, Turone, Borini (Bergamaschi), Benetti, Biaziolo, Rivera, Chiarugi

Ajax: Stuy, Suurbier, Krol, Blankenburg, Hulshoff, G. Mühren, Rep, Neeskens, Mulder, Haan, Keizer

2nd Leg, Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, 16 Jan 1974, att 25000

Ajax (2) 6 Milan (0) 026' 1-0 A: Mulder35' 2-0 A: Keizer71' 3-0 A: Neeskens81' 4-0 A: Rep84' 5-0 A: Mühren (pen)87' 6-0 A: Haan

Ajax: Stuy, Suurbier, Krol, Blankenburg, Hulshoff, G.Mühren, Rep, Neeskens, Mulder, Haan, Keizer

Milan: Vecchi, Sabadini, Maldera, Schnellinger, Anquiletti, Turone, Dolci, Benetti, Biaziolo (Tresoldi), Rivera, Chiarugi