Erik ten Hag is very satisfied with the way Ajax beat Feyenoord 0-3 on Sunday afternoon. The trainer of the team from Amsterdam thinks that his team has dominated the entire match in De Kuip. Ten Hag was also very pleased with Antony’s game, although the trainer continues to insist on an improvement point for the Brazilian winger.
After an hour of play, Antony ran away from the back of Tyrell Malacia, who then had to pull the emergency brake and the Ajax forward worked to the ground. The Feyenoord-back got his second yellow card and could take a red shower. It was thanks to Ten Hag’s fierce coaching that Antony went into depth and was put away by Jurriën Timber. “He has to recognize those moments himself, that he has to sprint deeply”, the trainer said afterwards in conversation with ESPN. “On that side, he was a plague throughout the game. But what he can really improve is depth without a ball. That’s where he should have recognized that he should have sprinted deep. He just needed a boost. ”
An Ajax player who has understood running actions better is Jurgen Ekkelenkamp. Ten Hag indicated that he enjoyed a running action by the substitute at Mohammed Kudus’ 0-3. “I thought he was excellent,” said Ten Hag about Ekkelenkamp. “He did exactly what he had to do there: bring a lot of dynamism and win duels, but also make running actions. You can also see it in the overlap he makes, which is how he opens up the game. ” Ten Hag saw Edson Álvarez be sent off the field with a red card just before half-time after a handball in the penalty area. With one man less, Ten Hag found his team to play ‘excellent’. “I think we dominated the entire game.”
Ten Hag thought Álvarez’s red card was too severe a punishment. The Mexican midfielder reached out with a shot at Feyenoord’s goal. Referee Danny Makkelie immediately showed red. “When the ball is shot from that close range, where should you put your hands? It’s up to arbitration, but it is double punishment”, The trainer referred to the red card and penalty kick afterwards during the press conference, which was eventually turned away by Maarten Stekelenburg. “Stekelenburg was fantastic again today, in almost all areas. Whether it was constructive, defensive or in the processing of balls. He brings peace and stops a penalty at a crucial moment today, ”said Ten Hag.