AMSTERDAM • Praises have flowed for the Ajax academy graduates, who have stayed true to the "total football" philosophy espoused by Johan Cruyff in their rousing run from the qualifiers to the final four of the Champions League.
However, after failing to end a 24-year European Cup drought on Wednesday, the reality dawned on coach Erik ten Hag and his players that his team will now inevitably be broken up in the summer.
The Dutch league leaders were undone 3-2 on the night by a Lucas Moura hat-trick, including his added-time goal that punched Tottenham's ticket to the final on away goals despite the tie ending 3-3.
This season, Ajax have been a butterfly team, here for one glorious summer, but whose wings are already beginning to disintegrate a little in the sunlight.
Yet ten Hag found consolation in their "fantastic" European campaign despite the heartbreaking nature of their semi-final exit.
He said: "Football can be very beautiful and it can be very cruel. We have had to experience that today. We were one second away from the final and for that, our team deserves a very big compliment. I'm very proud of my players."
Despite his pride, he rued the golden opportunity that slipped through their fingers, after goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech gave them a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead.
The Dutchman added: "If you're 2-0 up, you have to make sure you win and we failed to do that. In the first phase after half-time, we lost our grip on the game, they played a more opportunistic game.
"At 2-2, we dominated again and we created chances. It's very bitter that none of those went in and they scored a very fortunate goal in the last seconds, maybe even past what should have been the last second."
De Ligt heads a list of names that will likely be sold, including Ziyech, who hit the post; David Neres, who was injured during the warm-up; and Donny van de Beek, the first-leg match-winner. Frenkie de Jong has already agreed a blockbuster move to Barcelona.
While captain-defender de Ligt, 19, admitted he "did not know how to recover from this" and that it was "a dream that went bad", he told Dutch TV channel Veronica that Ajax were still going to fight for a domestic double.
The Dutch Cup winners lead the Eredivisie on goal difference from PSV Eindhoven with two matches left.
REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN
India vs Australia: Tim Paine's 'new Aussie team' proves capability to produce results after victory in second Test Australia's 146-run victory was the first since the ball-tampering saga that rocked the nation.
Australia sense victory in second Test after brutal day in
Football: Lions will not hold back against Oman but must stay focused in defence, says coach Nazri Nasir
Lions have nothing to lose against Oman, says Nazri
Sports Direct annual profits fall 59% as weak pound takes its toll The high street retailer controlled by Mike Ashley reports a big drop in annual earnings after a costly hit from the weak pound
What is on Eleven Sports UK, how much does it cost, what
United, Spurs, Juve and Inter ready to heat up ICC Singapore
With Silva, Portugal no more just the Ronaldo show, Football
Ole gives stars 'licence to express', says Yorke. Players like (from left) Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford are among those who have shone since the appointment of Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer has lifted shackles off strikers, says Yorke
EIBAR, Spain (AFP) - Atletico Madrid needed Thomas Lemar to come off the bench and score an 85th-minute winner against Eibar on Saturday (April 20) as they stretched their lead over Real Madrid to
Atletico extend lead over Real with narrow win over Eibar
Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for title Paris St Germain's Ligue 1 title celebrations were delayed again when they suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat by second-placed Lille after
Football: Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for
Man City fans fear another nightmare after shock change for Liverpool clash. Man City face Liverpool in a crucial Premier League fixture and Pep Guardiola's decision over his defenders has
How rivals fans really feel about Liverpool winning the
London (AFP) - Aston Villa's Jack Grealish was punched by a pitch-invading Birmingham fan in a shocking incident during Sunday's Championship clash, but the midfielder had the last laugh as he scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over their bitter rivals.
Villa's Grealish has last laugh after Birmingham fan attack
Report Ad
Check Out Real Madrid Barcelona on eBay. Fill Your Cart With Color Today!
Watford winger Richarlison will have a medical at Everton on Monday before finalising his £44million move. The fee, understood to be an initial £35m with add-ons, could represent a potential £
Melee at UFC 229 after Nurmagomedov beats McGregor | 650 CKOM
SINGAPORE - Former Singapore star striker Fandi Ahmad is set for a return to Malaysian football. Fandi will join the Johor FA team as technical director, after an invitation by the crown prince of the Malaysian state, Tunku Mahkota Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim, who took over as president of the Johor FA last week.
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch soccer game live now
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch premier league games live stream
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch champions league live streaming match
watch premier league live in stream
watch premier league live streaming free
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch soccer live stream app
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch soccer games live stream free
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
soccer tv live net stream
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch live soccer game today
watch premier league live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league draw live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch live streaming soccer games
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
free watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
tv soccer live stream sky
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch champions league final live streaming
#kopisusu #mensnightout #mancity #manchesterunited #bayervshoffenheim #vandijk #roadtrip #beatifulgame #comics #kroenkeout #freekicks #4Series #noelgallagher #jadwalbolahariini #frasirap #livestreaming #liverpool #firmino #insegreto #champion #footballmemes #BMW #linkstreaming #championsleague #adidasslipon #realmadrid #footballdubai #meunier #coyg #nationsleague #football #streamingbolaid #thomasmeunier #portsmouthfc #liverpool #footballfans #barcelona #manchestercity #PartyTime #golazo #rockstar #watchlive #paulmcartney #GarageCafeDxb #sixtimes #MyDubai #americanfootball #Barcelona #livesports #soccermemes #neymar #afcnews #salah #romania #bayernmunich #juventus #uefanationsleague #zinedinezidane #england #fut #Fcb #copaamerica #alissonbecker #lfc #realmadridcf #goodday #zidane #midnight #soccerbible #MSport #arsenalfantv #transfernews #commento #klopp #oasisengland #manunited #serieatim #football #bestshishacafedubai #coys #knuckleball #leicestercity #Celtic #footballschedule #Bar #manchestercity #arsenal #villarealcf #liverpoolfans #oudmehta #kickoff #bundesliga
No comments:
Post a Comment