After three matches won, Ajax is in excellent shape in the group stage of the Champions League. After convincingly settled with Sporting Portugal (1-5), Besiktas (2-0) and Borussia Dortmund (4-0), football talk shows and newspapers talked about possibly winning the billion-dollar ball. Ryan Gravenberch closes the final victory of the Champions League with Ajax, but does not dare to make a harsh statement.
In an interview with The Telegraph Gravenberch says he agrees with the statement that Ajax can win the Champions League this season. “If you’re still in it, you can win the tournament. But I can already see the headlines appearing,” said Gravenberch, who is cautious in his statements: “So let me say clearly that I don’t want to look that far yet. We are in a good flow and have nine points from three games. Our first goal is to hibernate and try to maintain our good European form.”
The nineteen-year-old midfielder can call himself a regular basic player in Erik ten Hag’s team for the second season in a row. On Wednesday evening he will go on for his tenth Champions League game. Although he is proud of his own development and achievements so far, Gravenberch feels he should score more. “Because I now play a little higher on the field. In fifteen matches I have only scored once and that is certainly not enough in such a productive team”, says the midfielder. “My father always talks about shooting more from the edge of the penalty area, looking for luck and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
After three matches, Ajax leads Group C with nine points. With a win over Borussia Dortmund, Ajax is already assured of qualification for the eighth finals. If Sporting Portugal does not beat Besiktas on Wednesday, then a draw will suffice for the team from Amsterdam. Dortmund must do it on their own field without the injured Erling Braut Haaland, Emre Can and Raphaël Guerreiro.
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