Ajax will play against Benfica in the eighth final of the Champions League on Wednesday. In Portugal, the Amsterdammers are the big favorite. “I don’t like that we are favourites. We focus on the match,” Ajax coach Erik ten Hag said.
infirmary
Ajax cannot have the longer injured Maarten Stekelenburg, Sean Klaiber and Zakkaria Labyad. Striker Brian Brobbey is also not there against Benfica. “Brobbey is doing well and is on schedule. I can’t put a date on it yet when he is fit again,” says Ten Hag.
“It makes me proud that I have been able to play so many matches for the club where I grew up”
Record Daley Blind
Daley Blind is about to break the record of the Ajax player who has played the most matches in the Champions League ever. Together with Jari Litmanen, he now shares that record with 42 games. He will break that record on Wednesday evening. †Personally, that is special. It makes me proud that I have been able to play so many matches for the club where I grew up.”
Old acquaintance
Former Ajax player Jan Vertonghen plays for Benfica. Together with the Argentinian Nicolas Otamendi, he forms the experienced defense duo of Benfica. “Jan Vertonghen is a good friend of mine and plays an important role at Benfica with his experience,” said Blind.
“Those are issues you’d rather not hear, but it’s a private matter”
Ten Hag responds to publications about Winston Bogarde
Monday It became known that Ajax assistant coach Winston Bogarde was accused of serious cross-border behavior in 2019 and 2020. The Amsterdammers then had this investigated and dismissed it as a private matter. “These are issues that you would rather not hear, but it is a private matter. Two independent investigations have looked at it and declared it inadmissible. We must leave it at that,” Ten Hag responds.
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