AS Roma kept Ajax 1-1 on Thursday-evening in the return of the quarter-final of the Europa League and qualified for the semi-final, as the Romans won 1-2 in Amsterdam last week. Rick Karsdorp agreed after the draw in the Stadio Olimpico that it was ‘buttocks squeezing’ for him and his teammates in the second half.
“Very quickly in the second half they made the 0-1, you don’t really want that,” said Karsdorp afterwards in conversation with RTL7. Substitute Brian Brobbey had only been on the field for a few minutes when he scored the opening goal. A goal by Dusan Tadic a few minutes later was disallowed due to a foul committed by Nicolás Tagliafico. “After that they have actually not been very dangerous anymore,” said Karsdorp, when Tadic said that Tagliafico committed a foul and informed the referee. “I immediately shouted to the referee that it was a violation. Luckily for us he went to have a look and it was a violation, so we were lucky there. ”
Ten Hag sour after the elimination of Ajax in the Europa League: “We were better!”
Reporter Marcel Meijer informed Karsdorp that the players of Ajax are frustrated by the elimination. “Maybe they are frustrated because they should have made it 2-0 from a penalty in the first game. And then perhaps could have continued further. Based on today I would not know why they are frustrated ”, said Karsdorp, who was told by Meijer that Ajax was the better team in two games. “Football certainly, but we are in the semi-finals. Luck is certainly involved. We are an adult team, you have seen that today. I don’t think they have been given very big opportunities. Mainly due to mistakes at the beginning of the second half. After the 0-2, which was a violation, we didn’t give anything away and we got into the game a bit better. ”
“Is it extra nice to be able to eliminate Ajax as a former Feyenoord player?”, Meijer asked Karsdorp. “I knew this question would come,” said the right back, unable to suppress his laugh. “I am from Dutch football, so normally I watch as a supporter of Dutch football in Europe. Only today I play for Roma and then I am very happy that we can eliminate a Dutch club. And if we have to take one out, then preferably Ajax. ” In the semi-final AS Roma will take on Manchester United. Whether that’s an even bigger game for Roma? “I do not dare to say that. Ajax is a very good team when it comes to football. That is United too, we are all looking forward to it. ”