Ajax painfully lost 1-2 to AS Roma in the quarter finals of the Europa League on Thursday evening. In the newspapers, extensive attention is paid to the loss of the team of trainer Erik ten Hag. In particular, the blundering Kjell Scherpen and Dusan Tadic’s miss from eleven meters are featured in the morning papers. Despite the loss, the newspapers still see sufficient perspective for the team from Amsterdam on their way to the semi-finals of the club tournament.
‘Ajax gets hit on tap’, headlines The Telegraph. The newspaper refers to the run-up to the confrontation with AS Roma, in which Daley Blind and Maarten Stekelenburg dropped out injured, and the way in which Ajax went down against Roma. “Given the balance of power, Ajax – despite the bleak – can still hope for a new Europa League final after the European dream trip in 2017.” Due to the 1-2 defeat Ajax has ‘made it unnecessarily difficult’ for itself. The blunder of Kjell Scherpen in the second half is also discussed. The final post went painfully wrong with Lorenzo Pellegrini’s 1-1.
“If Stekelenburg’s injury turns out to be more persistent than expected, the former FC Emmen goalkeeper can also keep Ajax’s upcoming championship game. It would complete his crazy season, which started with fifteen meaningless games in Young Ajax. Although his head will not exactly be that way now. ” According to reporter Mike Verweij, Erik ten Hag’s team should cling to the fact that ‘the first battle has been lost, but the battle is not yet’, referring to the double confrontation between Ajax and Real Madrid in the Champions League season 2018 / 19, when the first meeting was also lost 1-2 and Ajax reached the next round after a 1-4 win in Madrid.
Also in it Algemeen Dagblad Extensive attention is paid to Scherpen’s blunder. “What started as a childhood dream ended in a nightmare for Kjell Scherpen.” According to the newspaper, the ex-goalkeeper of FC Emmen became the schlemiel of the evening. “And that while Ajax seemed on its way to a dream evening five minutes earlier. The next step to the third semifinal of a European tournament in five years had Dusan Tadic, who was knocked out by Roger Ibañez, on the shoe. The Serbian captain, who has not yet missed a penalty this season, saw the insecure Roma goalkeeper Pau Lopez parry his attempt through the middle. Ajax let the injured Romans who fell behind in Serie A escape on their traffic island to a Champions League ticket. ”
“Ajax can still smell the blossom of the semi-finals of the Europa League in the distance, but the insidious thing is that the fresh scent can be completely spoiled in a week’s time,” Willem Vissers writes de Volkskrant. According to the reporter, the defeat against Roma still offers perspective, given the strong reputation of the Amsterdammers in European duels. “But the upcoming champion lost rather stupidly, instead of distancing himself.” The game of the blundering Scherpen is also discussed. “Scherpen presented himself to tranquility, with his imposing figure. He can throw far as if he were a discus thrower and his voice can be heard all over the stadium. But he blundered in that free kick. ” Vissers does not want to write off Ajax for a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League. He points to the strong performance of the Ten Hag team outside the Johan Cruijff ArenA. “Ajax is currently behind, but has not yet been beaten.”
According to it NRC would have been more into it for Ajax against Roma. “Ajax created plenty of opportunities and also now proved, with a young team, that it is reasonably stable in the European sub-tier, even though the Italians took the loot.” The newspaper points to the missed opportunities at Ajax of, among others, Tadic, Antony and substitute Brian Brobbey. “While Ajax insisted, he eventually fell on the other side, via Roger Ibanez: 1-2. Unexpected? They remain Italians. ” The return in the Stadio Olimpico is scheduled for next Thursday (9 p.m.).