Dusan Tadic and Erik ten Hag do not look back with satisfaction on the away match against Benfica (2-2). The captain saw that Ajax did not perform well in the Champions League match, especially in the second half. The coach thinks that his team should have used more opportunities.
“When we don’t win a match, it’s always a shame,” Tadic told RTL7. “We didn’t create much in the second half. We have to do more with the qualities we have. But Benfica is also a good opponent and we know that it is always difficult here. They have not lost many home games in Europe.”
“I have mixed feelings”, Ten Hag begins in conversation with Ziggo Sport. “We were not good on the ball today and we conceded two goals. But nevertheless we create five hundred percent chances. In European you are not going to play ten chances together, so we had to be sharper about that.”
Improvement points for return
Ten Hag knows what needs to be improved in three weeks. “We have shown that we can play well against them. We have to be a little calmer on the ball. They are dangerous in the transition and from corners. We have to watch out for that.”
Tadic is also looking forward to the return. “We have chances in the home game and we have to win them in a full Johan Cruijff Arena.” On Tuesday March 15, Ajax and Benfica will compete in Amsterdam for a place in the quarterfinals.