“It’s March, the season is about to start.” Ajax coach Erik ten Hag made that statement this afternoon at the press conference prior to the cup match with AZ. Tomorrow evening the two North Holland clubs will face each other in the semi-final.
On Sunday it went terribly wrong for Ajax against Go Ahead Eagles. In Deventer lost the Amsterdammers an away game for the first time in over a year. Last Wednesday against Benfica (2-2) in the Champions League, things did not go smoothly either. “The first half against Benfica was fine, then we didn’t play well for a game and a half. We said what needs to be improved and it needs to improve quickly. It is March, the season is about to start.
They are all finals. We have to face it,” says a combative Ten Hag.
“At the time, they made a tactical adjustment, but it doesn’t mean they will do that tomorrow.”
Earlier this season against AZ, it also ended badly for the team from Amsterdam. Ten Hag’s team lost 2-1 in the Johan Cruijff Arena. “I watched that game again this week,” the coach said. “At the time, they made a tactical adjustment, but it does not mean that they will do that tomorrow. There is a lot of drive in that team and that is also apparent from the series of eighteen unbeaten games that they have. It is a final and we are all looking forward to it.”
Mazraoui absent, Timber probably back
Ajax will have to do without Noussair Mazraoui in Alkmaar. The right back has suffered from his knee after the game against Go Ahead Eagles. Brian Brobbey is also not available. He is now focusing on the return against Benfica in two weeks. Jurriën Timber, on the other hand, seems fit again, after he had to miss Sunday’s game.
In the competition, Ajax only conceded seven goals in 24 matches. That is seven more than in the KNVB Cup, because several keepers kept their goal clean against Barendrecht, Excelsior Maassluis and Vitesse. “The organization is very good defensively. Daley Blind has an important role in this in terms of positioning and coaching. And on the ball he brings so much in his passing. That is an absolute added value in our attacking game,” explains Ten Hag. Nico Tagliafico, who has always had a base place as a left back in recent seasons, therefore always starts on the bench.
“I’m sure we’ll see the old Onana again in the not too distant future”
André Onana will defend the goal against AZ tomorrow after the loss of Remko Pasveer and Jay Gorter† “I think he is so happy that he can stand under the bar again,” says Ten Hag. “It’s just a natural talent. With these kind of people, the steps also go very quickly. I am sure that we will see the old Onana again in the not too long time.”
Neres fled from Ukraine
Finally, Ten Hag discussed the situation of ex-Ajacied David Neres. The Brazilian left Ajax for Shakhtar Donetsk this winter. He fled the country on Saturday because of the war in Ukraine. That caused a lot of relief within Ajax. “Neres has been in contact with the players and with our team manager. We are happy for him that he is out of the war situation and that he is safe again. Antony suffered for a few days. He was very worried about his good friend That is also understandable when you see the bond between the two.”
AZ – Ajax starts tomorrow evening at 8 p.m. NH Sport will be there live with an extra broadcast on NH Radio from 19:00 to 23:00.
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