Donyell Malen is deeply disappointed after the painful defeat in the Champions League. On a visit to Ajax, Borussia Dortmund already faced a 2-0 deficit halfway through, which was further expanded after the break: 4-0. The attacker of those Borus can talk to RTL7 not put the finger on the sore spot, but acknowledge that the team from Amsterdam played ‘a good game’. BVB trainer Marco Rose also only had short answers. “Das war Scheisse”, said the coach.
“Dramatic evening”, Malen responds briefly when asked. “It is an evening we are not proud of, but I think Ajax deserved to win. It was not good on our part. I think they played a good game, but I think we missed some things and just weren’t in the game. How come? It’s hard to say right after the game. I think they just played with the right intensity and we had little to argue with that.” Malen was unable to impress and was taken off in the 53rd minute in favor of Thorgan Hazard. “Why? I was just taken out. Quickly forgotten and we go for revenge in Germany”, concludes the visibly upset Malen.
“We got off to a good start,” Rose concludes shortly afterwards. “But then we fall behind and it quickly becomes 2-0. Ajax had many more opportunities. At halftime we thought there might still be something possible. But then it becomes 3-0. Ajax played with so much pleasure. There was also a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium for them. Our legs got heavier and heavier and eventually it will be 4-0.”
“We knew that Ajax is good,” continues the Dortmund coach. “But they are really good. We did have a few chances. But their goalkeeper was also very good. Ajax combined so well and put so much aggression in the duels. We must learn from this quickly. Because in two weeks we play against each other again. But then in our stadium,” said Rose.