Ajax boss Erik ten Hag is still extremely disappointed but also proud of their efforts in the Champions League this season.

Ajax led the Champions League semi-final 2-0 at half-time on Wednesday but missed out on the final after Tottenham sealed a 3-2 victory in the last second.

A day afterwards, Ten Hag spoke to Ajax TV and praised the club’s fans, “We can only be proud of our Champions League campaign and we also get the credits for it. You have seen it from our fans, who are also incredibly disappointed, but after ten seconds they were able to turn it into applause. That was a great moment, I can show a lot of respect and appreciation for that.”

On his own disappointment, Ten Hag said, “It is as if a truck has driven over you.

“If you are so close to a Champions League final, and that slips through your fingers at the last minute … The dream was a reality, we had it. But it still slips away, that’s incredibly acidic. Of course, we have to learn from this.”

Ten Hag is now aiming to pick the players up for their Eredivisie clash with Utrecht this Sunday, “We must help the players to re-establish themselves. The players are free tomorrow (Friday) And on Saturday we must be ready to compete with Utrecht.

“This team is resilient, it has a tremendous drive and fighting spirit. We can re-establish ourselves and we will do so. It is important to find the right motivation again, but it is logical that that motivation is present if you are at the top after 32 rounds.”




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