Erik ten Hag is particularly pleased with Steven Berghuis’ performance in the 2-0 Champions League win against Besiktas. The wing forward was good for a goal and an assist and is therefore named man of the match by his coach. Ten Hag also indicates at the press conference afterwards that he sees Berghuis growing.
“For me, Berghuis was the man of the match, with a goal, an assist and a number of creative ideas. I think he did an excellent job. You could say he’s in shape, yes. It’s been that way from the start, but it’s growing. He manifests himself better and better and therefore makes an increasingly larger contribution”, says Ten Hag. The coach was generally pleased with the performance of his team.
View the full summary of Erik ten Hag’s press conference here.
“There was a good interaction in a wonderful atmosphere, because Ajax played very well. After a negligence, the first chance was for Besiktas (Michy Batshuayi hit the post, ed.), but then we took control of the game. We also got away well (at the rejected goal by Besiktas, ed.) and we have to be vigilant about that, those are details,” emphasizes the Ajax trainer. He thinks his team should have scored more often. “We have to be sharper, more brutal and calmer at certain times.”
“Sometimes it’s bad luck, because with Haller’s header (early in the second half, ed.) the keeper himself hardly knows how to keep it out. We leave too many opportunities unused and that is not possible at this level,” continues Ten Hag. Ajax takes the lead in Group C after two Champions League matches, together with Borussia Dortmund. Both teams have six points and come in three weeks those Borus first visiting Amsterdam, after which the return in Germany is scheduled two weeks later.
“This is a different level than we are used to, so against Borussia Dortmund we will have to take a step to get a result there,” says Ten Hag. “If you don’t do that in those two games, we’ll just have to see how the group is doing. That is a challenge we face, but it is not impossible to achieve results. I have faith in that. We have six points and a super start, but we’ve had those six points before and then it didn’t work out. Now it should work.”