Erik Ten Hag admitted his Ajax players were taught a lesson by PSV Eindhoven on Sunday.
- By Michael Bell
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Ajax headed to Eindhoven needing to avoid a defeat to keep their title chances alive. However, PSV ran out easy 3-0 winners to seal the title, while Ajax were also reduced to nine men.
Afterwards, Ten Hag said to NOS, “All credits to PSV, congratulations on the title. They are very mature, we got a lesson today. We have to learn from the mental hardness of PSV. Even though we have admitted it today, we were childish and naïve. ”
It hurts Ten Hag that PSV won the title against Ajax, “Terrible, this is not what we wanted. Absolutely not. We also had the intention to win this game, we went full, that was also visible. But despite all good intentions, we have not converted it. PSV was sharper at decisive moments, the first goal was very important.”
Sorry, but neither of this season’s coaches inspired confidence that Ajax had much chance of overtaking PSV. Those who appointed Ten Hag need to accept responsibility for getting it wrong a second time. Indeed, the second half of the season was more indifferent and inconsistent than the first, not only between games but within them.
After the indisciplined, bad-tempered display today, I hope the new season will bring new management.