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."
Come July, you'll be able to see some of your favourite European football clubs live in Singapore when they head over for their pre-season friendly matches. These include Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus, and Inter Milan. The International Champions Cup (ICC) organisers made the highly anticipated announcement on Wednesday (27 Mar).
Man City vs. Liverpool, Man Utd vs. Liverpool pick of ICC
"Kepa should be sacked, not Sarri": Pundits split on Chelsea
The Next 48hOURS, Cape Town, Western Cape. 9.7K likes. Your free guide to your free time.
Next Store Opening Times
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has confirmed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a serious knee injury and could return to training as early as February.
Football: Oxlade-Chamberlain could return to training in
May 09, 2019 · Tottenham and Liverpool success hits England's Nations League plans physically draining Champions League final would be able to cope in Baku on 29 May has further disrupted Southgate's
Southgate: Champions League 'mess' could screw up England
Harry Kane was injured in the final moments of the defeat by Manchester United. Tottenham striker Harry Kane will be out until March after injuring ankle ligaments in Sunday's 1-0 Premier League
Spurs star Kane out until March with ankle injury
We lack trust in ourselves when we question our actions or decisions. Sometimes we might even question who we are. That can hurt. Build trust in yourself by breaking your habit of questioning your
In Ourselves and Each Other We Trust - Robin Morgan
Chelsea Not In Premier League Title Race, Says Sarri. during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The London Stadium, in east London on September 23
Chelsea not in Premier League title race, says Sarri
TOTTENHAM Hotspur gained a slender advantage over London rivals Chelsea on Tuesday in their League Cup semi-final meeting as Harry Kane's penalty kick earned them a 1-0 win at Wembley.
Kane's VAR penalty gives Tottenham edge over Chelsea
"The boss knows how happy I am to be here and I am grateful to him," Morata said. "We want to qualify as soon as possible for the Euros so it was important to win today." Malta lie 182nd in FIFA's world rankings, between Liechtenstein and Macau.
Karim Benzema scored his sixth goal in four games as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-0 on Sunday for a fourth successive LaLiga victory which took the European champions to within eight points of leaders Barcelona.
Real Madrid stroll to fourth straight win | TODAY.NG
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer boosted by Mourinho's work, claims Louis Van Gaal more exciting football in his time at the helm than they do now. Van Gaal's claims seem at odds with the more
Solskjaer boosted by Mourinho's work, claims Van Gaal - World
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/03/26/solskjaer-boosted-by-mourinhos-work-claims-van-gaal/
Van Gaal's claims seem at odds with the more entertaining football played by United since Solskjaer started a reign that looks set to bring him the manager's job on a permanent basis. "The way Manchester United are playing now is not the way Ferguson played," Van Gaal told the BBC on Tuesday. "It is defensive, counter-attacking football.
0 comments:
Post a Comment