AMSTERDAM (REUTERS) - Ajax Amsterdam coach Erik ten Hag described their semi-final exit from the Champions League as "very cruel" after the Dutch side were undone by Lucas Moura's 96th minute strike for Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday (May 8).
"Football can be very beautiful and it can be very cruel. We have had to experience that today," said Ten Hag, whose young side appeared to be heading for a final showdown with Liverpool on June 1 in Madrid until Moura's last-gasp strike shattered their dreams.
Having lost the first leg in London 1-0, Tottenham secured their place in the final thanks to a hat-trick from Moura which completed a 3-2 win on the night. With the encounter ending 3-3 on aggregate, Spurs emerged triumphant on the away goals rule.
The result ended Ajax's long, and barely plausible, ride through three preliminary rounds, starting in July, to the last four of the competition.
During that incredible run, they had knocked out holders Real Madrid and Juventus and on Wednesday were seconds away from a place in the final - until it all ended in heartache.
"Overall we had a fantastic Champions League campaign, we were one second away from the final and for that our team deserves a very big compliment, I'm very proud of my players," said Ten Hag.
Â
Â
Â
But the coach admitted that they let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers having been 3-0 ahead on aggregate with 45 minutes left to play.
"If you're 2-0 up, you have to make sure you win the game, and we failed to do that. In the first phase after halftime we lost our grip on the game, they played a more opportunistic game," he said.
"But after the score was level at 2-2 we dominated again and we created chances.
"It's very bitter that none of those went in, and that they scored a very fortunate goal in the last seconds, maybe even past what should have the last second."
Defender Daley Blind described the defeat as "a dream that had burst" while teenaged captain Matthijs de Ligt called it "a nightmare".
"What am I supposed to say? It's terrible. We were so close. This is a dream that has burst apart," said Blind.
De Ligt added: "It's a nightmare, like a dream that went bad.
"We played well in the first half, we had it all our way. We didn't keep up the same pressure in the second half.
"We gave silly goals away. We were so close to the final … and then the ball goes in. Unbelievable."
Poor show but Emery backs Mustafi LONDON • Unai Emery bizarrely insisted Shkodran Mustafi "has been consistent all season" after his abject display against Crystal Palace ensured the top-four race remained wide open.
Unai Emery backs Arsenal's Mustafi ahead of Wolves
MADRID (Reuters) - Holders Real Madrid were sensationally knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday after being thrashed 4-1 at home by an outstanding Ajax Amsterdam who overturned a first
Real Madrid knocked out of Champions League by brilliant Ajax
Dec 16 (Reuters) - Chelsea consolidated fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday that became harder work than had seemed likely in the first half
Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four EPL
Football: Derby shocker with Villa's Grealish attacked by
This post was originally published on this site Arsenal manager Unai Emery is unsure if Aaron Ramsey will play for the club again after limping off in the Gunners' 1-0 win at Napoli in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final. Ramsey, who has already agreed to join Juventus in the summer on a […]
Arsenal stars laugh while in a huddle during training as they
Premier League: Jorginho fires Chelsea as recalled Kepa Arrizabalaga shines Description: Eden Hazard was the catalyst with an incisive run into the Fulham area, the Belgian laying the ball back to the Jorginho, who guided a superb strike into the top corner from 18 yards.
Premier League: Jorginho fires Chelsea as recalled Kepa
CARDIFF, United Kingdom (REUTERS) - Tottenham moved back into second place in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool, after cruising to a 3-0 win at lowly Cardiff City on Tuesday
Spurs back up to second after 3-0 win at Cardiff - Football
Apr 05, 2019 · Liverpool came from a goal behind to beat Southampton and regain its position at the top of the English Premier League. Liverpool came from a goal behind to beat Southampton and regain its
Southampton vs. Liverpool - Football Match Summary - April 5
Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on his Liverpool outfit after they delivered what he claimed to be their 'best game of the season' in a 2-1 win over Tottenham at Wembley on Saturday. The Anfield
Kane insists club rivalries will not split England camp 20/03/2019 Oman Observer LONDON: England captain Harry Kane insists the Three Lions' squad are too united to be divided by the tension of club rivalries surrounding the Premier League title race and upcoming Champions League ties.
Kane insists club rivalries will not split England camp
Ronaldo and Silva shine as Portugal dominate best Nations League XI Monday, Jun 10 2019 12:28 Transfer roundup (09/06/19) - Wan-Bissaka, Bale and Umtiti amid reports
Ronaldo gets the gold with Silva lining - finance.yahoo.com
10-man Arsenal slump in Rennes, Sevilla held Papastathopoulos changed the game as the Gunners slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Rennes on a night of tightly-contested Europa League last-16 first-leg
10-man Arsenal slump in Rennes, Sevilla held - The Huffington
Reds get back fear factor, says Van Dijk AFP. The Anfield side fell behind domestic and European rivals but Tuesday's remarkable 4-3 aggregate win over Barcelona secured back-to-back Champions
Liverpool news: Virgil van Dijk warns Reds of Huddersfield
0 comments:
Post a Comment