Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 11:48

Erik ten Hag thinks the current Ajax is ‘more mature’ than the team that was eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League in the 2019/20 season. That is what the trainer of the team from Amsterdam said on Tuesday after the 2-0 victory over Besiktas. Nevertheless, Ten Hag demands more sharpness from his team in defensive terms.

“When I look at my team, I strongly feel that awareness is greater than in 2019. We have become more mature, know better how to deal with this situation,” Ten Hag tells. NUsport. Ajax started the group stage convincingly two years ago with victories over Lille OSC (3-0) and Valencia (0-3), but in the end the team from Amsterdam finished third behind Chelsea and Valencia. The reigning champion of the Netherlands has also started the current Champions League campaign energetically with victories against Sporting Portugal (1-5) and Besiktas (2-0).

In 2019, however, Ajax did not survive the group stage of the billion-dollar ball despite the energetic start. “At the time, things went wrong at home against Chelsea in the last five minutes,” Ten Hag recalls. Ajax lost 0-1 against Chelsea shortly before time due to a goal by Michy Batshuayi. Later, Valencia also won 0-1 in Amsterdam. “We should have cherished a draw against Chelsea, but we didn’t. I think that maturity is in it now. We’re going to see it against Borussia Dortmund, I think that’s the strongest opponent in this group.” According to the coach, the upcoming diptych with the German top club is a good indicator of where his team stands.

“It’s not impossible. I have every confidence in it. We also have to radiate that, although we know that we have to reach a higher level than against Besiktas.” Besiktas managed to create serious danger against Ajax twice. Early in the first half with a shot on the inside of the post by Michy Batshuayi and after the break saw Kara Kartallar a hit by Kenan Karaman will be disallowed. Ten Hag gave opposite Ajax Life showed that his team got away well, especially at the second moment. “Those are moments that can turn a match. Whether it was a foul on Jurriën Timber? I couldn’t see that well, but we were trumped very easily in that situation.”