Erik ten Hag was as proud as a peacock after Ajax-Lille (2-1). “It is a great achievement for Ajax to win twice the number one in France. That is excellent.”
The Ajax trainer agreed that it was difficult to defend for rest. “Nicolas Tagliafico is defensively a very important link. But Lille had also read us well and a solution to that, while we did not immediately have the counter-solution. It took me to calm down that I could tell them how the defensive organization was supposed to stand. After that, it was a lot more stable.”
Ten Hag further pointed out the fighting spirit. “Ajax can also compete without Tagliafico. You cant always play good football. If you dont, you have to win another way. The team understands that better and better.”
Then spirit is necessary
Also Davy Klaassen praised the team spirit of the Amsterdammers. “Against a strong opponent — and that was Lille — you cant just tap and spirit is needed. We have already shown them in the last few weeks and we must hold on to it.”
The routinier (28) had to do with the Ajax fans at home for the tube. “I can imagine that after the 1-1 they thought pfoe. We realised that we had to go full and we could not slacken a moment, because that could cause an extension. If were going to shiver too, its not a good sign.”
According to Klaassen, Ajax-Lille had almost everything from a real Europe Cup squatter. “In terms of competition, I think it was a lot of fun to watch. But without fans, its not a real European evening,” says the creator of the opening goal. “We went for the fast 1-0, because we knew Lille was coming and we wanted to take away hope. In the end the hope wasnt gone yet, but it was nice to have a buffer.”
According to Klaassen, that the French were the parent party had two reasons. “They came forward more than last week. And when we won the ball, we lost it right away, putting them in their strength — the counter. They were better than in the outgoing race, we were a lot less.”