After Million Manhoef’s goal against, the grumbling began to increase in the Johan Cruijff Arena. ‘Schreuder rot on’, it sounded just like last Sunday in the top match against PSV. Schreuder is not concerned about it and, in his own words, focuses on his team. “It’s not up to me either. This is part of football and we know how it can go. I am working with the team and think they have given a good response today. Not winning this match alone is very disappointing.”
,,The result is absolutely not good”, Schreuder continues at ESPN. ,,But the players have shown a drive. We are just in the corner where the blows fall. Given the chances it could have been 8-2 “But it is true that we are also beaten twice in the transition. That happens to us more often. That really needs to be improved. Of course I am disappointed. But I would be really worried if we hadn’t got any chances. I also saw very a lot of energy in the team, but it is also not easy.”
The Ajax coach was not pleased with the performance of his defenders in the 1-2. ,,In the first half we lost the ball clumsily and we should have gone to Manhoef earlier. With the second goal we are vulnerable and we have to sit inside more and no one is allowed to stand free. That is certainly not good and we really need to improve. The second goal is poignant: from my peak we had a pretty clear agreement that if we attack from the left, we have to close the right.”
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Schreuder continues: ,,I don’t think the boys are doing it consciously, but it is something we have to pick up quickly. We have to improve and concede fewer goals. It has to do with certain concentration and taking up the tasks. This team is in full development and when I compare it with Sunday, I can already see a big difference playing football. We should have done better tactically.”
Where Schreuder drew attention to the many missed opportunities, Steven Berghuis was a lot more critical of Ajax’s performance. “It has to be a lot better across the board if we want to realize our ambitions and take the title,” he said.
,,It just sucks again,” said Berghuis. ,,But the whole game image was just not good again. Of course we had a lot of chances, but we also gave a lot away.”
Million Manhoef was able to cross the entire field of Ajax twice. No player of the home team put anything in his way. ,,I believe that with that 1-2 he started running from his own penalty area”, said Berghuis. “That’s really not allowed.”
,,If Daley Blind moves to the left, then I think Jorge Sánchez should remain in his position of right-back,” Berghuis continued. ,,We had such good intentions in the final phase that we passed ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen myself play better.”
Berghuis heard quite a lot of supporters of Ajax urging in chants for the departure of trainer Alfred Schreuder. ,,You have to be a big boy at times like that. You are at Ajax, then you have to win. But so many players have left as well. Last season only Remko Pasveer and I were new. You can see that in our game, but we still have to improve.”